Martin O’Neill has acknowledged the need for Celtic to quickly regroup following their unexpected elimination from the UEFA Champions League play-off round by Austrian side LASK Linz. The Scottish champions, who had established a commanding 4-0 lead over two legs, were overturned in dramatic fashion, losing 5-4 on aggregate after extra time in the second leg in Austria on Tuesday. This defeat means Celtic will continue their European campaign in the Europa League instead.

The 74-year-old manager took personal responsibility for the collapse and stressed the importance of learning from the experience. “You’re always one game away from a crisis,” O’Neill said, reflecting on the disappointment of losing a significant advantage late in the contest. He described the situation as a moment “in the ashes” but expressed hope that the club would recover and eventually progress deeper into European competitions, even if he might not be in charge to witness it.

O’Neill also emphasized the need for squad reinforcements ahead of the new Europa League campaign, which features a challenging group stage including opponents such as Benfica, Marseille, Besiktas, Celta Vigo, Union Saint-Gilloise, Ferencvaros, Omonoia Nicosia, and Torreense. He highlighted specific areas for improvement, mentioning the need for a left-back replacement for Kieran Tierney, a box-to-box midfielder to challenge for a starting spot alongside Arne Engels, and general squad strengthening to compete effectively at the European level.

In addition to the transfer market focus, O’Neill has called for mental resilience from his players as they face a domestic fixture against Falkirk shortly after the European disappointment. He warned that moments of frustration and pressure are expected during the game and acknowledged that the crowd’s restlessness could test the team’s resolve. Captain Callum McGregor, who scored a key goal in Austria, was reported to be doubtful for the match against Falkirk due to a stomach illness but was hoped to be fit.

Reflecting on the club’s recent successes—Celtic won both the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup last season—O’Neill said fans will expect a strong response following the setback. However, he recognized the difficulty of the Europa League group, pointing out the presence of historically strong teams such as Benfica and Marseille.

While the early Champions League exit is a blow for the Hoops and their supporters, O’Neill remains focused on rebuilding confidence and enhancing the squad to mount a credible challenge in Europe's secondary competition.