Celtic

Celtic suffered a second ignominious Champions League play-off loss in a row as Austrian champions LASK fought back from four goals down on aggregate to sweep aside the hapless visitors amid a colossal collapse.

Read the match report here.

Have your say here.

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Celtic captain Callum McGregor tells Amazon Prime: "When you're 3-0 up in the tie it's psychological.

"I didn't think we were that good in the first leg, we scored at good times and kind of got away with it.

"When you play like that you can't have any excuses whatsoever. We have to suck it up. We apologise to the supporters because there's no way we should lose that game. We've got to suck it up and now we'll see the character that's in there.

"When you go 1-0 up in the game and it still doesn't settle you, you can't have any excuse and that's on us.

"You fall at a big hurdle these questions [on whether the squad are ready] are going to get asked. You can't lose by that margin then look for excuses elsewhere.

"You'll now see what people are made of in terms of what we go on and achieve this season. This is what it's like to play at Celtic. You have to bounce back, you have to show a reaction and that's what Celtic are all about."

Tino
Fan writer

Tonight in Austria is about one thing. Getting the job done.

After that brilliant first-leg performance, Celtic take a three-goal advantage into the return knowing if they see it through we're back in the Champions League proper.

On the face of it, that is the prize.

But qualification should change much more than simply putting Celtic's name back in the draw...

The financial question

The most obvious factor is money. Champions League qualification brings a completely different level of revenue and while Celtic are hardly scraping around financially, that extra income is still vital.

Especially with only a few days remaining in the transfer window. Because if Celtic qualify, the conversation immediately changes from "Are we good enough to reach the Champions League?" to "Are we good enough to compete once we get there?"

Recruitment this summer has been encouraging. Camilo Duran has made an instant impact. Kasper Hogh gives something different through the middle, while Mika Baur and Haissem Hassan have added further quality and options.

But qualification should sharpen the focus even more. Suddenly, Celtic know exactly what level they're preparing for.

And perhaps that provides the extra push required to add another two or three key players.

Status still matters

Then there's the prestige. Despite the changing landscape of modern football and financial dominance of Europe's biggest leagues, Celtic should be a Champions League club.

It is where the club, players and supporters want to be. And after last season's painful exit against Kairat Almaty, getting back there makes a statement.

It would make last year look like a setback rather than the beginning of a wider decline.

Champions League football matters to players too. Top players want that big stage, those nights and that level of competition.

It helps with recruitment. It helps with retention. And it makes Celtic a far more attractive destination.

The ultimate test

There's also the sporting challenge - this Celtic team needs tested properly.

Domestic football can only tell you so much, but the unforgiving Champions League environment exposes everything.

Quality, concentration, decision-making, defensive weaknesses and squad depth.

As impressive as Celtic's start has been, we don't yet know the ceiling of this team. Europe's toughest competition would provide the answers quickly.

Qualification should be the beginning

That is why tonight is about much more than just another qualifier.

It could influence Celtic's transfer business, their ambitions, the mood around the club and the expectations of the entire support.

First things first of course. There are still 90 minutes to negotiate in Austria.

But if Celtic finish the job, the next question becomes every bit as important: Do they simply celebrate Champions League qualification and consider the summer a success?

Or do they use it as a platform to push again, strengthen again and build a squad genuinely capable of making an impact?

And that's where things could start to get very interesting.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

We asked whether Celtic should sign a right-back in the current transfer window after Alistair Johnston was ruled out until October.

Here are some of your comments:

Michael: The cover Celtic have at the moment is enough to get by if we don't buy. But it baffles me how consistently threadbare the left-back position is.

Paul: Of course cover is needed at right-back; if Donovan is injured we're left with Anthony Ralston. Johnson may be out for longer than October as there's no guarantee his recovery goes completely to plan. So let's get someone in that can be back-up for Donovan.

Steve: AJ is a top top player but starting to look very injury prone. Young Donovan needs time to develop and work on his left foot, he's very one footed for a professional footballer. We 100% need to go and get a right-back.

Adam: A right-back would be nice, but it is nowhere near our top priority, which I believe right now is a goalkeeper, then a left-back, and then an Engels replacement.

Louis: We do not need to sign another right-back, Donovan proved on Wednesday night he is absolutely more than good enough to cover Johnston. Tony Ralston is also a Premiership proven player who surely by now has showed he is more than competent enough of filling in if needed.

Benny: Celtic need to sign a right-back ASAP. As good as Donovan was last week, he is not the answer right now. We need a right-back with proven European experience as we know when AJ is fully fit he will be a transfer target again. Ralston is not good enough to step up so a proven defender is a must, along with a few other positions.

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Celtic cannot try to defend their aggregate lead in the second leg of their Champions League play-off against LASK, according to the club's former striker Cillian Sheridan.

Martin O'Neill's side won last week's first leg 3-0 at Parkhead thanks to some sparkling attacking play, although the Austrian champions did also have several chances.

Sheridan says Celtic must adopt a similar gameplan in Austria on Tuesday if they are to reach the competition proper and has backed a summer signing to make his mark in the game.

"It's almost like getting flashbacks of the summer with Scotland - going into games thinking we can maybe lose 1-0 or 2-0 and go through," Sheridan said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "It doesn't work.

"It's a horrible game to try to play that way. They have to go at it like the first game.

"LASK will attack them, so there will be spaces to counter-attack and Celtic have the players to punish teams.

"I think it could be the perfect game for Haissem Hassan with his pace."

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With Alistair Johnston ruled out until "sometime in October", should Celtic sign a right-back before the transfer deadline?

Or do they have adequate cover with Colby Donovan - who excelled in last week's first-leg win over LASK - and Anthony Ralston?

The Johnston prognosis is a blow to Celtic as they prepare for the second leg of the Champions League play-off.

The Canada right-back missed most of last season through injury and is now sidelined again in the early throes of the new campaign.

As well as the LASK second leg, he will miss domestic games against Falkirk, Aberdeen and St Mirren - plus the double-header with Rangers.

In his absence, are Celtic in safe hands with Donovan - or do they need to bring in a right-back? Let us know here.

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Celtic midfielder Mika Baur wants to build on his "incredible" home debut by beating LASK and fulfilling his Champions League dream.

Martin O'Neill's take a 3-0 lead over the Austrians into tonight's Champions League play-off second leg after last week's victory in Glasgow.

The convincing win was Baur's first appearance at Celtic Park after coming off the bench at Tannadice in the League Cup following his move from Paderborn.

"It was incredible," the German said when asked about his first taste of Parkhead. "The atmosphere and energy in the stadium - I knew it before from sitting in front of the TV and now to feel it in real life is incredible, such a nice feeling.

"Playing in the Champions League is a dream for every young kid growing up watching football."

O'Neill was keen to stress the tie is not over after the first leg and Baur knows it will require another top performance to reach the competition proper.

"It's difficult because we know they are a good team," he said. "They made a good match in Glasgow, so we know what we have to do.

"We need the same mentality and energy to hopefully win again."

And the German had special praise for manager O'Neill as he continues to adapt to life in Glasgow.

"He's makes us feel comfortable, his way to manage the team is different to how I know it in Germany, but he's really, really impressive," the 22-year-old said.

"There's a lot going on at the moment, but I really enjoy it, to meet new people and play with them, it's a different style but I really enjoy it and to walk around the city, look for apartments, it's a nice time at the moment."

Toulouse have joined the race for Hadjuk Split midfielder Niko Sigur, with the Canada international a target for Celtic. (Scottish Sun, external)

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

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Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has been talking to the media before Tuesday's Champions League play-off second leg against LASK.

Here are the best bits from his news conference:

• O'Neill expects Celtic "to be put under pressure" with LASK trailing 3-0 on aggregate, but insists Celtic will not sit in and defend their lead.

• He fancies his team to score, but would not be drawn on whether a single goal would be enough to secure progression to the Champions League proper.

• On potential transfer business, O'Neill says he will not think about that until after the game, but hopes there will be incomings before the end of the window.

• O'Neill believes his squad will be strengthened regardless of whether they are in the Champions League or Europa League, but admits reaching the Champions League would provide a "massive lift in every aspect".

• He expects both teams to have chances in the game and says his team will give everything to progress.

• Team news: Auston Trusty has travelled with the squad to Austria, but did not train on Monday because of an upset stomach. Alistair Johnston will be out until "some time in October".

Image source, Getty Images

Celtic will intensify their interest in Torino's Lithuania midfielder Gvidas Gineitis, 22, after the conclusion of the Scottish Premiership winners' Champions League play-off with LASK in Austria on Tuesday, with Celtic leading 3-0 from the first leg. (Sun, external)

Gineitis set up Scotland forward Che Adams' impressive consolation in Torino's 2-1 defeat by AC Milan on Sunday. (Scotsman - subscription required, external)

Manager Martin O'Neill backs right-back Colby Donovan to play a leading role at Celtic. (Record - subscription required, external)

Meanwhile, O'Neill has told his squad to stay off social media. (Glasgow Times, external)

First-choice Viljami Sinisalo, 24, is unconcerned about the prospect of Celtic signing another goalkeeper this window. (Herald - subscription required, external)

Monday's Scottish gossip

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Celtic will step up their interest in Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis, 22, after Tuesday's Champions League play-off second leg away to LASK. Scottish Sun

Celtic are set to seal a £7m move for 21-year-old Bosnian World Cup star Ermin Mahmic from Slovan Liberec regardless of their Champions League result in Linz. Daily Record

Celtic have offered £7.7m for Frosinone winger Fares Ghedjemis, who is also being courted by Rangers, Monaco and Besiktas. Murat Ozen on X

Nicolas Kuhn has been placed on the Como transfer list a year after the winger's £17m move from Celtic, with reports in Italy saying there is interest from clubs in Germany and Austria. The Celtic Way

Image source, Getty Images

Celtic are in talks to sign Slovan Liberec midfielder Ermin Mahmic, with a potential fee of around £7m, with £1.5m in add-ons, for the 21-year-old Bosnia-Herzegovina international. Sky Sports, external

Celtic are in pole position to land midfielder Ermin Mahmic, who impressed at the World Cup, although there is interest from Schalke, Club Brugge, Union St-Gilloise and Toulouse. Daily Record, external

Celtic are close to agreeing a season-long loan deal for Chelsea left-back Landon Emenalo. Sky Sports, external

Celtic will explore options at right-back as Alistair Johnston is facing an extended spell on the sidelines and have been made aware that Southampton defender Yuki Sugawara is available. Scottish Sun, external

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Celtic have won four out of four this season, scoring 13 goals and conceding just one - but goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo has warned "we can do so much better".

LASK had two goals disallowed and a glut of chances but were swept away by an impressive attacking performance as Celtic won 3-0 in Tuesday night's Champions League play-off first leg.

Sinisalo's clean sheet didn't come easily - he made eight saves - and said: "I think we can be better, as weird as it may sound.

"The big moments went for us and there's a lot that we can do better. Ultimately, we've come away with a 3-0 win so we've got to be happy, but I think there's a lot more to come from the group.

"I don't need to make that many saves as I've done on Tuesday, so that's got to be the message.

"I didn't think we were brilliant. We were okay at times and some of the football we played was good, but I think we can be a lot better. They're a decent side and they'll cause us problems when we go there.

"It's not over. It's half-time and no one's getting carried away or ahead of ourselves."

Sinisalo, whose only prior European outing came in Celtic's 1-0 win in Stuttgart as they exited the Europa League last season, is determined to build on his experience after a special night where the Champions League anthem gave him "shivers".

"It's a funny one because not many Finnish players play in the Champions League or get that opportunity," the 24-year-old said. "It's something you dream about.

"But anything you dream about, once you get that taste of it, you just want more and I'm no different in that way.

"You hear that, it brings a smile to your face and shivers and stuff like that, but you just want more and want to belong at that level. It's like anything in life, if you want something, you get something, you just do it again and again and again.

"It's no different to winning trophies. Once you win one, you just want to win more."

Reports suggest Celtic are keen on Girona's Colombia midfielder Yaser Asprilla, 22. (Record - subscription required, external)

Forward Camilo Duran is willing to play wide on the right at Celtic, despite a central striking role being his preference. (Glasgow Times, external)

Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray has no knowledge of Celtic interest in goalkeeper Balazs Toth, 28. (Herald - subscription required, external)

Friday's Scottish gossip

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

The word "extraordinary" is much loved by Martin O'Neill.

I remember him using it repeatedly in an emotional post-match interview in Turin after he felt a dubiously-awarded penalty had robbed his side of a priceless point in the Champions League away to Juventus.

The fact that rant is now a quarter of a century old is, well, extraordinary in itself. As is the fact O'Neill once again stands on the verge of leading Celtic back to the promised land.

It would surely be the veteran manager's greatest achievement with the club. The three-goal cushion he's resting on will provide a great degree of comfort as he prepares to head to Linz to finish the job.

The tie - as he rightly points out - is far from a foregone conclusion given the myriad chances the talented Austrians carved out at Parkhead. Recent precedent tells you, however, precious few come from three down to win.

That Celtic sit so prominently in the box seat is further validation of the decision to bring the old master back.

It's when you start to consider the scale of his achievement in the available timeframe the mind begins to boggle. This time last year, O'Neill had been retired from football for more than six years.

In the space of a few short months across two spells last season, he wrought calm from chaos; success from failure; hope from despondency.

The football wasn't pretty but needs must. A league and cup double were plucked seemingly out of thin air. No wonder they call him the messiah.

I presumed part of his desire to accept yet another Celtic contract, even at the grand old age of 74, was to have one last crack at the Champions League. To do so, he'd have to get the board to part with some serious cash.

The more cynical among the support will tell you that's actually his greatest achievement. But spend the money they have, with Kasper Hogh, Camilo Duran, Mika Baur and Haissem Hassan all expensively recruited. Paid for by the departures of Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels. Business is business.

In February, Celtic lost 4-1 at home to Stuttgart in the Europa League. They'd already been given lessons from Roma and Midtjylland. Wilfried Nancy was sacked in early January with the entire club in disarray.

From that starting point, how should we describe the prospect of O'Neill restoring domestic and European respectability to such an extent Celtic may well soon be a Champions League club again? It's extraordinary, right?

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Celtic have announced their first co-operation agreement of the season, partnering up with League Two Dumbarton.

Young goalkeeper Aiden Rice and midfielder Owen Hartington have now joined the Sons on loan but, under the agreement, can move between the clubs if required.

Meanwhile, Ayr United, who had a partnership with Celtic last season, have signed winger Thomas Hatton on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old is yet to make a competitive appearance for the Scottish champions but has been involved with the first-team squad and featured in the recent friendly against AC Milan.

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland

Camilo Duran has wasted little time in becoming a Celtic hero.

The 24-year-old Colombian delivered what Martin O'Neill hailed as a "world-class" performance in the 3-0 win over LASK that pushed Celtic to the brink of the Champions League.

Duran's brilliant double had Parkhead bouncing while his tireless workrate and eagerness to track back also had fans nodding in approval. Could he even be an upgrade on departed idol Daizen Maeda?

"We know how important Maeda was to Celtic winning the league last season with his workrate, willingness to press and run in behind, and coming up with goals in big moments," said former Scotland forward James McFadden.

"Duran is showing he has all those attributes - and a little bit more. Outstanding - and the frightening thing is he's playing out of position."

On a night where Celtic had no passengers in a breathless performance - while riding their luck at times - it was Duran who shone brightest and his numbers underline his effectiveness.

He netted two goals from a combined xG of just 0.46, showing lethal finishing as he thumped in a volley then arced home either side of half-time.

In total Duran, who was deployed on the right wing, attempted six shots - the most of any Celtic player - and put four on target, while his five touches in the opposition box was a joint high with Kasper Hogh.

Duran also ranked joint first across both teams for dribbles (six, tied with Yang Hyun-jun) and won possession five times, a tally bettered only by Callum McGregor.

As captain McGregor remarked post-match: "Two unbelieves finishes - he's looked a real, real threat. But the thing I love the most about him is his workrate."