Celtic’s 7-1 dismantling by Borussia Dortmund was a stark and painful reminder of the gulf between domestic dominance and European reality. We’ve seen this script unfold before—Barcelona, PSG, Atletico Madrid—all making light work of the Bhoys on big European nights. It’s part of the same brutal cycle under Brendan Rodgers: Celtic cruising in Scotland, only to be utterly exposed on the continental stage.
But let me make one thing clear—this isn’t about asking for sympathy or offering excuses. What happens to Celtic in Europe is exactly what Celtic do to teams in the SPFL. We impose ourselves, control the ball, and leave teams with nothing but scraps. Watching us struggle against Europe’s elite is probably a cathartic experience for the rest of the league.
Financial Muscle: Spending Isn’t the Only Issue
Much has been said about the financial gulf in Europe, but let’s not pretend Celtic haven’t put serious money on the table. This summer alone, we brought in players like Arne Engels and Adam Idah for significant fees. We are spending. But in the grand financial ecosystem of European football, it’s a drop in the ocean. Clubs like Dortmund don’t just have more cash to throw around in terms of transfers, they outgun us across the board—whether it’s in football operations, scouting, or coaching.
The financial disparity permeates through every facet of the club. Dortmund can afford the best scouts, employ the sharpest football minds, and invest in state-of-the-art facilities that we simply cannot match. We may be spending more these days, but in terms of infrastructure and the holistic development of a club that competes at the highest level, we’re still way behind. Even if we were to push the boat out further in the transfer market, that gap would remain. Again, this scenario mirrors Celtic’s set up in the SPFL.
Tactical Idealism: Inviting a Wolf to Dinner
Celtic’s tactical approach in Europe has also played its part in these results. Brendan Rodgers has built a team that thrives on possession football—a style that works beautifully in Scotland, where teams sit deep and allow us to dictate the game. But when we try to play that same open, expansive football against the likes of Borussia Dortmund, it’s like inviting a wolf to dinner. Teams of their calibre press high, punish mistakes, and swarm at every opportunity. Playing openly against them is less about bravery and more about setting ourselves up for failure.
What we could use is a return to the mindset of the Gordon Strachan or Neil Lennon days in Europe—teams that were more robust and willing to embrace the ugly side of football. We had players back then who could do the dirty work, who would scrap and fight for every ball. These weren’t players who would necessarily thrive in a fast-paced, possession-heavy team like Rodgers’ current squad, but they knew how to dig in and get results on difficult European nights. That ruggedness, that ability to grind out a result, is something sorely missing from this Celtic side.
Celtic have got their best results in European football at their most pragmatic and usually with a goalkeeper worth their weight in gold.
The Domestic Paradox
The impossible challenge for Celtic is that our domestic dominance doesn’t allow us to develop the kind of footballing resilience we need in Europe. Week after week, we play against teams who have no choice but to sit in, park the bus, and hope for the best. There’s no space to counter-attack, no room to practice soaking up pressure. Suggesting Celtic should play more conservatively in the SPFL is absurd—our domestic reality simply doesn’t allow it.
This domestic success, as enjoyable as it is, leaves us ill-prepared for the relentless intensity of Europe. In Scotland, we’re always the team dictating play, always on the front foot. But in Europe, when we come up against teams who press high and attack with pace, we look naïve. It’s not about Celtic trying to adopt a different style in Scotland; it’s about acknowledging that our domestic reality makes it incredibly difficult to transition effectively to the challenges of European football.
The Reality of Pragmatism
When I talk about wanting Rodgers to be more pragmatic in Europe, I’m coming to terms with what I’m really asking for. I’m not expecting Celtic to lay a glove on Europe’s elite. What I’m hoping for, subconsciously, is to avoid another 7-0 thrashing. I’m asking for a 2-0 or 3-0 defeat because, frankly, that feels like a more dignified result. It’s a sobering thought, but that’s where we are as a club. The truth is, we’re not in a position to challenge the likes of Dortmund, and avoiding humiliation has become a form of success.
I don’t expect Rodgers to fundamentally change his philosophy. He’s committed to playing the way he believes football should be played, and that’s brought him great success in Scotland. But in Europe, there has to be a recognition that playing openly against the elite is a recipe for disaster. I’m not asking for Celtic to abandon their attacking principles altogether, but on nights like these, we need to be smarter. We need to accept that sometimes, just keeping the scoreline respectable is a victory.
The Scars of Dortmund
The real worry, though, isn’t about Rodgers changing tactics—it’s about the psychological impact of nights like these. What happens when the players are asked to go again against another European heavyweight? How do they pick themselves up after a result like Dortmund? The scars of that defeat run deep, and it’s hard to imagine the team finding the belief that they can compete when they know what happened the last time they stepped onto that stage.
When technically superior teams come calling in the next run of games, it’s not just about the tactics—it’s about the mental toll. The fear of another heavy defeat will be lingering in the back of their minds, and that’s where the real damage lies. Once that fear sets in, it’s hard to shake off, and it becomes even more difficult to play with the confidence and belief that Rodgers demands.
So, where does that leave us? For all the talk of tactical tweaks and spending power, the gap between Celtic and Europe’s elite is likely to remain. What we can do, though, is stop being so open and naive. Rodgers may not change, but the players, scarred by nights like these, will find it harder to believe they can truly go toe-to-toe with the best. And that’s the real tragedy of these defeats—the erosion of belief, the sense that no matter how hard we try, we’re always destined to come up short.
