Celtic: Martin O’Neill slams fan protests which halted Europa League…

Celtic: Martin O’Neill slams fan protests which halted Europa League…

Martin O’Neill gave a blunt and brutal evaluation of Celtic’s points after their Europa League thrashing by Stuttgart, slamming a fan protest, explaining how a Premier League change might increase their European prospects and defending Kasper Schmeichel.

O’Neill’s facet are all however out of their knockout play-off with Stuttgart after a 4-1 humbling in the first leg at Celtic Park.

Image:
Celtic supervisor Martin O’Neill during the loss to Stuttgart

The game was halted inside the opening seconds when followers threw balls onto the pitch to highlight their frustration with the club’s board, while goalkeeper Schmeichel was later booed after making errors for Stuttgart objectives.

Speaking afterwards to TNT Sports, O’Neill described his team as “masters of our downfall” however also pointed to issues past the pitch, including Celtic’s limitations in the switch market, saying: “Eventually, if the SPL [Scottish Premiership] belonged to the Premier League, I don’t think we’d have a problem.”

On the prospect of Celtic pulling off a turnaround in the second leg, he conceded: “At some stage, Celtic will become a top-quality European team. That’s in the future. But at this minute, our battles are elsewhere.”

Celtic’s essential run of games

O’Neill slams fan protests which halted game

After a rousing rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone and with a big ambiance generated at kick-off, Celtic supporters halted the game within seconds of the first whistle.

It took round 4 minutes to clear up all the toy balls which had been thrown onto the pitch in protest at the club’s house owners.

Image:
Players choose up toy balls thrown from the crowd in a protest action during the UEFA Europa League knockout round playoff

O’Neill did not cover his frustration at how the incident had hampered his facet, when requested about it by TNT Sports after the game.

“Anybody who thinks that’s a good idea needs their heads examining,” he said. “There’s no question about it. It sends out totally the wrong message.

“We are playing against Stuttgart. The game is difficult sufficient.

Image:
A steward clears balls off the discipline after Celtic followers protest at the start of Celtic vs Stuttgart

“The problem is, way back, some years ago, this was an incredibly intimidating place to come to. Incredibly difficult. I’ve managed here when sides like Juventus were scared stiff of coming here. Where top class sides were scared stiff.

“That type of factor doesn’t assist in any respect.

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Celtic captain Callum McGregor reveals the pressure as his facet lose 4-1 to Stuttgart

“There have been battles going on [between fans and the board] but that doesn’t help. All it does do, Stuttgart come to this wonderful football club and find a lot of in-fighting going on and things being thrown onto the pitch… it doesn’t make any great sense to me.

“If I’m a Stuttgart participant, I’m considering I’m fairly comfortable in this setting, if that’s the case.”

‘At some stage Celtic should compete’ with big PL spending

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Celtic had been overwhelmed 4-1 at residence by Stuttgart in the first leg of their Europa League play-off

Celtic have not received a European knockout game since O’Neill oversaw a victory against Barcelona in 2004. Asked about the gulf in high quality between Celtic and European sides, O’Neill advised Scottish golf equipment might should ultimately mix with the Premier League for monetary causes.

“It’s very difficult for Scottish teams [in Europe],” he explained. “There’s no money, in that sense. You’re talking about Premier League teams, Bundesliga teams buying players for £40m-£50m and them not even playing, not getting into the side.

“Players in the Premier League in the last couple of seasons have value £70m or £80m and are transferred for £40m about three months later. So it is ridiculous.

“We have to try to compete with that. At some stage or another we have to compete with that. That’s the difficulty of it.

“You’re attempting to get gamers in at low value because there is no cash. Eventually, if the SPL [Scottish Premiership] belonged to the Premier League, I do not assume we might have an issue.”

O’Neill defends Schmeichel after boos from his personal followers

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Bilal El Khannouss scores Stuttgart’s opener at Celtic

O’Neill told TNT Sports he did not hear the boos or ironic cheers from Celtic supporters directed at Schmeichel in the second half however defended his goalkeeper and the contributions he is made to the club.

“Kasper Schmeichel has made some great saves since I’ve been at the football club,” he said.

“There was the game against Feyenoord, where he pulls off a great save there otherwise we might not be playing tonight.

“This is a collective. There’s little doubt in any respect about that.”

‘We had been masters of our personal downfall’

Summing up the performance, O’Neill said: “It’s a tough evening for us, obviously, 4-1 looks pretty poor.

“We had been masters of our personal downfall in many features. We conceded some very poor objectives.

“I felt at 1-1 we were well and truly in the game, even at half-time, 2-1 down.

“It was a tricky night.”

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