Celtic crashed out of the Champions League last night before their third successive campaign in Europe’s most prestigious competition could even get underway. A 4-1 defeat to Polish side Legia Warsaw was later compounded by a further 2-0 loss at temporary home Murrayfield.
This ensured the greats of club football will not be visiting the Scottish champions in the coming campaign, despite still being in with a shout of qualifying for the Europa League. The news will come as a huge blow for everyone involved with the Glaswegians, who will suffer financially as well as being hurt on a professional level. The Bhoys raked in over £30m from their successive stints in the tournament, progressing from the group stage in 2013.
Now under the management of Ronny Deila, expulsion at the third qualifying round will be viewed by fans, and most likely himself, as failure after predecessor Neil Lennon left the club this summer with fond memories under the floodlights of Celtic Park.
The Norwegian subsequently admitted, "We are very disappointed. We're going to rise up and we're going to perform much better, win the league again, and next year in this situation we're going to go through.”
With Rangers’ notable absence in the Scottish Premiership, the country's first division has been, well, a one horse race in recent times. No serious competitors for the domestic league meant The Hoops romped to their third title in three-years, finishing 29 points above second placed Motherwell.
With the league seemingly a foregone conclusion, can lifting aloft that particular piece of silverware be seen as success? Perhaps, but that is now the bare minimum one can expect from a side of such pedigree. Winning a cup is definitely on the cards with the likes of England International Fraser Forster, captain Scott Brown and former Arsenal man Anthony Stokes in their much feared squad. Defeats in the fifth and third round of the Scottish and League Cup respectively, put a small downer on last term. Deila will be adamant to do a double of some sorts to put things right.
Runners-up in 2003, lifting the the Europa League would signify prosperity this time around. UEFA’s secondary competition will be fought over with added incentive, the senior officials of Europe’s governing body have decided to grant the winners a coveted place in the group stages of the Champions League or at least the play-off round.
The loss of the Champions League won’t bode well with the star players at the club, and may deter any possible transfer targets this summer. It will affect the side momentarily but many can still see Celtic having a year to remember, up next for the Celts lay St Johnstone.