Celtic suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Stuttgart in the first leg of their Europa League play-off round at Celtic Park. Bilal El Khannouss scored twice, with Benjamin Nygren adding a goal in the first half to give the visitors a strong lead. Jamie Leweling and substitute Tiago Tomas sealed the win late in the match.
O’Neill Laments Defensive Errors on Milestone Night
Martin O’Neill, marking his 1,000th game as a manager, described the loss as a case of his team being “masters of their own downfall.” Speaking to TNT Sports, the 73-year-old Celtic boss highlighted poor goals conceded despite being competitive at 1-1 and 2-1.
“It’s a tough evening for us,” O’Neill stated. “On paper, 4-1 looks pretty poor, but we were masters of our own downfall in many aspects.”
He acknowledged the challenge ahead in Germany, where Stuttgart sits fourth in the Bundesliga. “It’s a tough ask,” O’Neill said. “You’re traveling to a side very capable of winning this competition.”
O’Neill emphasized the financial gap facing Scottish clubs compared to Premier League and Bundesliga teams splashing £40 million on players.
Fan Protest Disrupts Kickoff
The match faced an early delay when Celtic supporters protested against the board by throwing tennis balls onto the pitch moments after kickoff. Stewards and players cleared the objects, but O’Neill criticized the action sharply.
“Anyone who thinks that is a good idea needs their head examined,” he remarked. “This was once an incredibly difficult, intimidating place to come. Teams like Juventus were terrified here. That sort of thing does not help at all—it just shows Stuttgart there’s infighting going on.”
Schmeichel Faces Criticism but Backed by Manager
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel bore responsibility for two goals, drawing boos from some fans in the second half. O’Neill defended the 39-year-old, praising his key saves, including one against Feyenoord that helped secure this tie.
“Kasper Schmeichel has made some big saves since I’ve been at the club,” O’Neill said. “This is a collective. I didn’t hear any boos.” He declined to confirm changes for Sunday’s match against Hibs.
McGregor Eyes Pride and Recovery
Captain Callum McGregor insisted the scoreline does not reflect the game and won’t define Celtic’s season. “They scored at good times,” he noted. “I don’t think it’s a 4-1 game. We had good moments, but the goals killed our momentum—the third one was the killer.”
McGregor shifted focus to upcoming fixtures. “We have to keep going, keep fighting—so many big games. The focus is now on Sunday against Hibs, and when we go to Stuttgart next week, we have to claw some pride back.”
