Celtic boss Martin O’Neill admitted his facet have been ‘masters of their very own downfall’ of their sobering 4-1 Europa League play-off spherical first-leg defeat to Stuttgart.
Bilal El Khannouss netted both facet of a Benjamin Nygren strike within the first half to place the guests in command, with Jamie Leweling and substitute Tiago Tomas including gloss to the scoreline late on.
It leaves O’Neill’s males with a mountain to climb in Germany subsequent Thursday, and the 73-year-old — who marked his 1,000th recreation within the dugout final evening — was underneath no illusions concerning the duty at hand.
‘It’s a tricky night for us,’ he instructed TNT Sports activities. ‘On paper, 4-1 appears fairly poor however we have been masters of our personal downfall in lots of elements.
‘We conceded poor objectives. At 1-1 we have been effectively within the recreation, even at 2-1.
‘It’s a tricky ask (to get via the tie). You’re travelling over to a facet who’re fourth within the Bundesliga and are very able to profitable this competitors.
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‘At some stage, Celtic will change into a top-quality workforce, however that’s sooner or later. At this minute, our battles are elsewhere.
‘It’s very troublesome for Scottish groups. There’s no cash. You’re speaking about Premier League sides and Bundesliga sides shopping for gamers for £40million and them not enjoying.’
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was at fault for 2 of the objectives conceded, with some followers booing the skilled Dane within the second interval.
When requested if he would take into account dropping the 39-year-old towards Hibs on Sunday, O’Neill stated: ‘Kasper Schmeichel has made some huge saves since I’ve been on the membership.
‘The sport towards Feyenoord, he pulls off a terrific save, and (with out that) we could not even have been enjoying right here.
‘This can be a collective. I didn’t (hear any boos). I genuinely don’t know.’
The match was delayed shortly after kick-off resulting from Celtic followers throwing objects on the pitch
Supporters staged a protest towards the board inside seconds of the primary whistle, with stewards and gamers tasked with clearing tennis balls thrown from the stands on to the pitch.
The supervisor believed that had an hostile impact on his facet within the early levels. He stated: ‘Anybody who thinks that’s a good suggestion wants their head examined.
‘A means again, this was an extremely troublesome, intimidating place to come back. Groups like Juventus have been terrified coming right here.
‘That form of factor doesn’t assist in any respect. What it does do, is Stuttgart discover on the market’s loads of infighting happening. It doesn’t make sense to me.
‘If I’m a Stuttgart participant, I’m fairly comfortable if that’s the case.’
Captain Callum McGregor admitted Celtic will go to Germany with little aside from satisfaction to play for.
Celtic skipper Callum McGregor declared that the heavy defeat will not outline his membership’s season
‘I feel they scored at good occasions,’ he stated. ‘I don’t suppose it’s a 4-1 recreation and if you happen to look again, we had some good moments.
‘The objectives come at good occasions for them and kill any of our momentum. I feel the third objective is the one which kills us.
‘Now we have to maintain going, must maintain combating, so many huge video games. That gained’t outline the season by way of what we’re making an attempt to do.
‘The main target is now on Sunday (towards Hibs) and after we go there (to Stuttgart) subsequent week, we now have to claw some satisfaction again.’
