Celtic and Rangers regroup after European exits

Celtic and Rangers suffered crushing European blows in midweek, leaving both Glasgow giants to regroup domestically and scramble in the transfer market. Celtic were eliminated from Champions League qualifying on Tuesday after a goalless tie with Kairat Almaty ended in a 3-2 penalty shootout defeat in Almaty, while Rangers were beaten 6-0 by Club Brugge on Wednesday to lose 9-1 on aggregate in their playoff and drop into the Europa League.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers acknowledged the scale of the setback, saying the result was "bitterly disappointing" and that his side had not done enough over the two legs. Celtic dominated possession in the second leg but failed to create the necessary cutting moments; Daizen Maeda missed a late chance in normal time and, in the shootout, goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov saved three penalties including stops from Adam Idah and Maeda as Kairat became the first Kazakh club to reach the Champions League group stage.

The financial and sporting consequences are significant. Qualification for the Champions League brings an estimated 18 million euros in guaranteed revenue, a sum that falls to about 4 million euros for Europa League participation....