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 around Benjamin Nygren’s strike in the first half, while Jamie Leweling and substitute Tiago Tomas added late goals to seal a convincing win for the German side.
O’Neill Assesses Tough Challenge Ahead
Martin O’Neill, marking his 1,000th game as manager, described the loss as a case of Celtic being ‘masters of their own downfall.’ The 73-year-old manager highlighted poor goals conceded, noting the scoreline flattered Stuttgart despite Celtic competing at 1-1 and even 2-1.
‘It’s a tough evening for us,’ O’Neill told TNT Sports. ‘On paper, 4-1 looks pretty poor, but we were masters of our own downfall in many aspects. It’s a tough ask to get through the tie against a side fourth in the Bundesliga.’
O’Neill acknowledged the gap in resources, stating Scottish clubs face stiff competition from wealthier Premier League and Bundesliga teams spending £40 million on players.
Fan Protest Disrupts Early Play
The match faced a delay shortly after kickoff when supporters threw tennis balls onto the pitch in a protest against the board. O’Neill criticized the action, saying it handed Stuttgart an advantage by revealing internal divisions.
‘Anyone who thinks that is a good idea needs their head examined,’ O’Neill said. ‘Teams like Juventus once feared coming here. Such protests only help the opposition.’
Schmeichel Faces Scrutiny but Earns Defense
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel bore responsibility for two goals and drew boos from some fans in the second half. O’Neill backed the 39-year-old, citing key saves like one against Feyenoord that aided progression to this stage.
‘Kasper Schmeichel has made big saves since joining,’ O’Neill stated. ‘This is a collective effort. I didn’t hear any boos.’
McGregor Vows to Fight On
Captain Callum McGregor insisted the defeat does not define Celtic’s season. He pointed to positive moments overshadowed by Stuttgart’s well-timed goals, particularly the third that sapped momentum.
‘I don’t think it’s a 4-1 game,’ McGregor said. ‘We have big games ahead, starting with Hibs on Sunday. In Germany next week, we’ll claw back some pride.’
