It is just as well Martin O’Neill wanted no celebration of his 1,000th game in professional management. Stuttgart’s visit became men versus Bhoys and a deflating scene for anybody of Celtic persuasion.
This messiest of Celtic seasons, featuring umpteen managers and a similar number of low points has now featured supporters booing their own goalkeeper. Fans decided Kasper Schmeichel’s failure to keep out Jamie Leweling’s 57th-minute shot was a blunder too far. Schmeichel’s subsequent touches were jeered, albeit there was nothing he could do about the goal from Tiago Tomás in stoppage time which added gloss to Stuttgart’s position. The second leg feels like a fixture O’Neill could very much do without, coming days before a crucial visit to Ibrox.
“It is going to be very, very difficult obviously,” said O’Neill. “In time, Celtic will be able to compete deep into European competitions. It is just not there at this minute. This was a disappointing night for us.”
O’Neill claimed he was unaware of Schmeichel’s treatment from the stands. “This is a team game and we all have to deal with it,” said the manager.
The evening had opened in unedifying style for Celtic. It was barely to improve. Only seconds after kick-off, supporters threw tennis balls on the pitch as a means of expressing dissatisfaction with the club’s board of directors. “Anybody who thinks that was a good idea needs their head examining,” said O’Neill. “It helps no one.” The protest felt half-hearted yet Uefa are likely to take a dim view of a delay in play which lasted for three minutes. One of umpteen fascinating aspects of this strangest of Celtic campaigns involves the split between supporter base and boardroom. This is a fractured club, held together where it possibly can be by a 73-year-old manager.
