The Hoops blew their shot at the Champions League with two dismal displays against Kairat Almaty
21:34, 26 Aug 2025Updated 21:46, 26 Aug 2025
Martin O’Neill and Stiliyan Petrov
Frustrated Stiliyan Petrov reckons that venting his true feelings on where Celtic need to strengthen would land him with a ban.
The Hoops crashed out of the Champions League as they failed to break down Kairat Almaty across the two legs of their £40million playoff shoot-out.
Brendan Rodgers saw his team blow the chance of a Euro bounty after missing three penalties after 210 goalless minutes – with the Kazakhstan side reaching the league phase for the first time.
The result only ramps up the rising frustrations at the Parkhead powerbrokers from fans – with chants of ‘sack the board’ ringing out from the Celtic supporters during both legs of the tie due to the perceived lack of spending this summer.
While the likes of Michel-Ange Balkwisha and Marcelo Saracchi are now set to come in the door, the movement late in the window has only served to escalate tensions.
Asked on Amazon Prime if the feeling from fans over the lack of spending had impacted the club’s European ambitions, Martin O’Neill said: “That is something they will have to reflect on.
“You feel like it’s an opportunity lost. Is that because there is no money (being spent)?. That side should have been good enough to get through.”
But Petrov wasn’t convinced – and claims that more than two will be required this summer.
Asked what Celtic need in the door before deadline day, Petrov said: “If you want me to answer, they probably won’t let me back in Celtic Park.
“They need quite a few players. I think they are probably short four or five classy players; good quality. I think Celtic has always paid attention to development – developing players and giving them time.
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda looks dejected (Image: SNS Group)
“They do have those players – now they need quality. Now they need players who could make a difference. Gaffer (gesturing to Martin O’Neill), he always looked for big players – big characters – who can make a difference. Sometimes you need players like that.
“I think this Celtic squad do need that kind of help. I think they do need a financial injection. They need quality, and they need players who can make the difference on the big stage.”
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