It’s not all doom and gloom at Celtic despite their Champions League play-off collapse, according to Charlie Mulgrew.
Supporters are going through the motions after Celtic’s dismal display, while others are simply numb given past failures at this stage of the competition. Mulgrew has remained upbeat against that backdrop.
There’s no time to dwell, however, for the players, who are back in action at Celtic Park this Saturday against Falkirk. The reception will be interesting.
Against the backdrop of negativity that has followed Tuesday’s embarrassment, Mulgrew has opted for a more positive approach.
The former Hoops star featured in several matches under the European lights, and believes another season in Europe’s second-tier competition might not actually be a bad thing. He took to Instagram via his podcast, The Breakdown, to say:
“Let’s not forget Martin O’Neill got put out of Basel in the Champions League qualifier, went on a run to get to Seville in the [UEFA Cup] final. So, there’s a chance Celtic can do a run in the Europa League instead of getting embarrassed in the Champions League. There’s a positive spin on it.
“A Europa League campaign to look forward to, big nights in Europe at Celtic Park, could get a run in there. Not easy, but a more realistic chance.”
View this post on Instagram
Many will not want to hear that at this current moment. Celtic have failed to win a European knockout tie in 22 years, let alone go on a run deep into one of UEFA’s competitions.
But there is also truth in what Mulgrew says. The club have simply not shown themselves to be at Champions League level; fixtures in the Europa may spare some blushings.
The UCL cash the club have missed out on is one huge downside, however. There are still glaring issues within the squad that need to be addressed before the window shuts on September 3. How much the board actually get done is another question.
The four summer arrivals brought an air of positivity, but it was clear that was not going to be enough. The first-leg win over LASK was quickly dismantled in Austria, exposing the weaknesses in the squad. Still, the Hoops should’ve had enough to avoid such a terrible defeat.
Mulgrew has offered his opinion, but many supporters will have formed their own.
Keep Reading
