As Celtic go crashing out of Europe before Christmas for the second season in a row, the inquest will begin as to how they find themselves at the bottom of another Champions League group.
Despite being handed what was widely regarded as a favourable Champions League group, the Glasgow giants struggled to make any real impact despite a couple of decent performances against Lazio and Atletico Madrid at Celtic Park.
As always, after another defeat against Lazio, Celtic gets found out this level and the lack of any real investment in the first-team squad is very evident as Brendan Rodgers‘ men get found out for the fourth time in this campaign.
Chris Sutton delivers a damning Celtic Champions League verdict
The outspoken former Celtic man didn’t mince his words. Taking to social media channel X, Sutton said, “A predictably disappointing night… can’t get away from it that as Champions League groups go this was a gentle one and one point from five games in this group is not good enough.
“The team tonight really lacked physicality as well as real belief against a bang-average Lazio.”
![SS Lazio v Celtic FC: Group E - UEFA Champions League 2023/24](jpg/gettyimages-1818958775-1024x683.jpg)
And he is dead on. The Serie A side where no great shakes and, in truth, Celtic had a few chances to put the game to bed themselves before Ciro Immobile came on and stuck away two late second-half goals.
Celtic will return to Glasgow and need to take a long, hard look at themselves in the mirror after being outclassed by probably one of the poorest Italian sides I have seen in the Champions League in a long time.
All that’s left for Celtic now is to save face in Matchday 6 and try to pick up a win against Feyenoord. A victory against the Dutch will end a 15-game winless streak that is now a record in Europe’s top competition.
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