"We got what we deserved," Callum McGregor said, quoted by independent.co.uk, after Celtic's collapse against Lask Linz. It was the defining line from a damaging night in Austria, because the captain and Martin O'Neill told the same story afterwards: no excuses, no complaints about luck, just a team that lost control of a tie it should have finished. The defeat will cost Celtic at least £20million.

Accountability came first

McGregor's language was brutal because the position Celtic had held was so strong. They were 4-0 up on aggregate before the collapse, and McGregor had struck from 18 yards in the 21st minute in Austria.

Instead of settling the tie, Celtic let it drift. "I thought we were so passive. All night. We actually looked scared to go and win the game, and when you are 3-0 up it’s psychological," McGregor said, quoted by independent.co.uk.

That is a captain describing nerves, not misfortune. He also admitted the supporters were owed an apology: "We have to suck it up, apologise to the supporters and the club because there is no way that we should lose that game."

O'Neill took the same line from the dugout. Speaking to goal.com, he said: "I'm responsible for this one. Without a doubt. Naturally, it took me a long time to get over the UEFA Cup final in 2003, but this was majorly disappointing. In the context of things, one was a final which it would have been terrific to win; this was a qualifying game which we should have been able to get through."

He also pointed to the point where the tie turned. Quoted by independent.co.uk, O'Neill said: "We should have been out of sight by half-time. We scored a goal, which was great, we missed two great, great opportunities. And then we give them a lifeline just before half-time and then one just after it. And they come roaring back."

There is some disagreement in reports over the precise sequence late on, with BBC Sport describing Lask Linz as levelling the tie 4-4 on aggregate in the 90th minute before the late winner, while other reports focus more broadly on the collapse across extra time. The wider point is not really in dispute: Celtic had control and let it go.

The squad debate is not going away

McGregor's comments landed harder because they were not coming from a player hiding from responsibility. He has made 2 league appearances this season and played 187 minutes, with a 7.35 rating across that start to the campaign. Even so, he was clear that the players could not shift blame elsewhere.

He also accepted the bigger question hanging over the squad. "I guess not, no. Everyone’s happy for two or three weeks and then you fall at a big hurdle, these questions are going to get asked."

That debate has already started. Speaking to BBC Sport, Scott Brown said: "I feel for Martin because he's taking full responsibility" and argued that Celtic still need more depth and quality. His sharpest line was about the bench: "The strength and depth in areas still needs a little bit of quality because the players that came on didn't hit the same level as the ones that went off."

Brown also pointed to balance in midfield, saying Celtic are missing another physical option alongside McGregor and adding that Arne Engels was a huge miss physically and mentally. That does not wipe away the players' failure on the night, but it does explain why the inquest has quickly widened beyond one bad result.

What this leaves for Celtic

The most convincing part of Celtic's reaction was that both the captain and manager owned it publicly. That does not repair a collapse in qualifying, and it does not soften the financial hit of at least £20million, but it does strip away any temptation to blame the margins.

Celtic have now faltered in Champions League qualifying on six successive occasions, and this one will stick because of the position they were in before it unravelled.

FAQ

Why did Callum McGregor say Celtic looked scared against LASK?

McGregor blamed Celtic's own approach after the collapse, saying the team were passive all night and looked scared to go and win the game. His criticism came after Celtic had been 4-0 up on aggregate and after he had scored from 18 yards in the 21st minute in Austria.

Did Martin O'Neill blame himself for Celtic's Champions League qualifying exit?

Yes. O'Neill said, "I'm responsible for this one. Without a doubt," and also accepted responsibility for the goals Celtic conceded. His comments matched McGregor's line that the players could not look elsewhere for excuses after losing control of a tie they should have finished off.

How costly is Celtic's defeat to LASK?

The defeat will cost Celtic at least £20million. That financial hit sits alongside the football damage of another failed Champions League qualifying campaign and helps explain why the reaction has focused so heavily on accountability rather than bad luck.

Are questions about Celtic's squad depth fair after the LASK collapse?

They are fair to raise, even if they should not erase the players' share of the blame. Scott Brown said the bench lacked the same level as the starters, while McGregor admitted that when a team falls at a big hurdle, questions about the squad's level are going to be asked.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →