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Callum McGregor Furious as Celtic Surrender Four-Goal Lead to LASK in Champions League Collapse

Posted : 26 August 2026

Celtic captain Callum McGregor delivered a blunt assessment of his team-mates after one of the most dramatic European collapses in the club’s history. The Scottish champions surrendered a four-goal aggregate advantage against LASK before losing 5-1 in Austria and exiting the Champions League 5-4 on aggregate.

McGregor had helped put Celtic in an almost unassailable position when his deflected strike in the 21st minute extended their advantage to four goals. Celtic had already won the first leg 3-0 in Glasgow and appeared destined for the Champions League league phase.

However, LASK produced a remarkable comeback. Moses Usor reduced the deficit before Robert Ljubicic and Samuel Adeniran scored after half-time. Florian Flecker's late goal forced extra time, where Adeniran struck again to complete the Austrian side's stunning turnaround.

The defeat left McGregor deeply frustrated with Celtic's response under pressure. The experienced midfielder described the team as too passive and scared during the collapse, arguing that the players failed to show the character required to protect such a commanding advantage.

McGregor has experienced numerous difficult European nights during his long Celtic career, including heavy defeats against Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid, as well as previous Champions League qualifying disappointments. Yet this latest collapse stands out because Celtic had established such a dominant position before losing control.

The 33-year-old's reaction reflected the magnitude of the disappointment. Rather than offering excuses, he accepted responsibility and challenged his team-mates to demonstrate their character in the aftermath. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill also shouldered responsibility for the defeat, describing the loss as one of the most painful moments of his tenure.

Celtic will now have to settle for another Europa League campaign after missing out on the Champions League for a second successive season. The financial impact is also substantial, with the failure to reach Europe's elite competition reportedly costing the club more than £20 million.

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