This Is Our Level Now
As I watched yet another car crash in Europe for Celtic — a 3–1 home loss to Ferencváros — it finally sank in that this is where we are now. This is the level Celtic have slumped to. And it’s no wonder after years of decline on the European stage despite our domestic dominance. That contradiction is difficult to explain. Surely one goes with the other? If a club is as strong domestically as Celtic have been for the best part of a quarter of a century, then the inevitable consequence should be growth in Europe: improved coefficient, improved finances, improved profile, and an ability to attract better players.
Alternatively, you could make Europe the priority. Build a team with European competition as its core focus. Yes, that might hurt domestic performance in the short term and it might not have universal buy‑in, but strength in Europe would eventually make us even stronger at home. To the point where no Scottish club could realistically compete with us over a full season.
With Celtic, there is no clear sign — beyond vague mumblings about the SPFL being our “bread and butter” — of what our strategy actually is. The board claims Champions League qualification is the primary ambition. If that’s true, there is no evidence of how they intend to achieve it. Did they assume the Scottish champions would gain automatic entry indefinitely? That finishing ahead of our city rivals was enough? It’s depressing if true, but entirely plausible given what we know about the leadership of the club.
Across Europe, clubs in smaller leagues comparable to Scotland have recognised where the real rewards lie. They are willing to sacrifice domestic comfort to take a bigger slice of the European pie. Even modest success increases revenue, raises profile, attracts better players, and boosts transfer fees. It’s a simple strategy — not easy, but effective. And many smaller clubs are now achieving it repeatedly.
Even if Celtic retain the league title this year, we face three qualifying rounds to reach the Champions League proper. Not many fans would have confidence in us progressing, given our historic list of disasters. Planning for those qualifiers should begin now. Recruitment for January should already be underway with Europe in mind. The time for introverted, parochial naval‑gazing belongs to a bygone era. Domestic dominance will not bring European success. European success will prolong domestic dominance.
And so we turn to today’s match against our city rivals. Only a week ago we were dominated and humbled, surrendering meekly to a basic tactical change we couldn’t get to grips with. It was alarming to see a team so lacking in tactical nous that we had no answer. Or perhaps we simply didn’t want to try — relying instead on like‑for‑like substitutions as if that alone would change the game. It didn’t.
Against Ferencváros, we conceded a horrendous goal just before half‑time to go in 2–1 down. The manager made a tactical change, but it smacked of desperation and left us wide open. We conceded a third two minutes into the second half and the game was gone. Had we gone in at 1–1, who knows how the second half might have unfolded?
There is a difference between making an astute tactical adjustment and simply going gung‑ho. Decent, technical, tactically aware European teams will cut through that easily — especially against a squad as technically deficient as ours.
Last Sunday, we were so tactically rigid it was frightening. One shot on target in a 3–0 defeat. Today, we’re at home with 60,000 voices behind us. Hopefully we give them something to sing about. In midweek, the atmosphere died after 47 minutes as the inevitable unfolded. We’ve come to expect that in Europe, even at home.
Let’s hope home advantage today restores some confidence and pride. The players looked bereft of both in recent matches. Anything but a win today and it may be a rocky road ahead.
