Celtic exit Champions League after collapse, O'Neill accepts blame

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill accepted full responsibility for his team's dramatic collapse against LASK Linz, which saw the Scottish champions surrender a four-goal aggregate advantage to exit the Champions League at the playoff stage. The defeat, which occurred on August 25, 2026, at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz, Austria, sends Celtic into the Europa League and delivers a significant financial blow estimated to cost the club at least £20 million. Celtic had traveled to Austria holding a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg. Their position appeared even stronger when captain Callum McGregor scored in the 21st minute to make it 4-0 on aggregate.