Bhoycie The Champions League draw has handed Celtic a tie against Austrian champions LASK, and if there was anyone hoping for an easy route into the league phase, they’ll be disappointed.
This is a real test. Not just for the team, but to how our “World Class in everything we do” strategy looks ahead of this crucial tie.
LASK aren’t here by accident.
Looking online, they are having one of their best spells it seems in their history.
They’ve just won the Austrian Bundesliga and completed a domestic double.
It was only the second league title in their history, but it showed the progress they must of made recently.
A couple of seasons ago they also gained European experience in the UEFA Conference League, and finished 35th out of 36 sides.
So they must of improved drastically last season.
So yes, Celtic will rightly start as favourites.
But favourites don’t always qualify.
We know that better than anyone.
The concern for me isn’t LASK.
The concern is Celtic.
Because every summer we seem to have the same conversation.
A crucial European qualifier arrives, yet the squad still feels short.
We’re now into August and Celtic have brought in just two new players despite a significant number of departures over the summer.
But two players simply isn’t enough.
Not when you knew months ago this tie was coming.
Not when Champions League football is worth tens of millions of pounds.
I have consistently spoken about wanting players through the door early enough to work with them before these games arrive.
Regardless of what Celtic do between now and the qualifier – ONE new player will of had a Pre Season with our side.
That is shocking, there is no dressing it up.
Recent history doesn’t exactly inspire confidence either.
Celtic’s return in Champions League qualifiers has been poor. Too often we’ve gone into these ties believing we have our sh*t together, only to discover that half well-drilled, organised European champions from smaller leagues don’t read the script.
European football punishes hesitation.
It punishes poor planning.
It punishes clubs that believe they can leave business until tomorrow.
LASK won’t fear Celtic because of our history.
No one in Europe fears Celtic any more.
They’ll look at the current situation.
They’ll see a squad that still has question marks.
They’ll look at our record at this stage of the Champions League and lick their lips.
I am not saying LASK are better than us either, by the way.
Player for player, Celtic should have enough quality to progress.
But football at this level is rarely decided purely by talent.
It’s decided by preparation.
By having your strongest squad available when the biggest games arrive.
Unfortunately, that’s something Celtic have struggled to get right in recent years.
The frustrating thing is this didn’t have to happen.
The club knew when these qualifiers were scheduled.
They knew what the squad needed.
Financially we were set before the Window even opened to go out and strengthen key areas, make provisions for potential departures we could foresee.
Yet once again, we’re asking players to navigate one of the biggest ties of the season while recruitment continues around them.
Hopefully Celtic prove me wrong.
Hopefully O’Neill gets his side through comfortably and the conversation changes completely.
But if this tie becomes another European disappointment, nobody should pretend it came out of nowhere.
Because LASK may be the opposition.
The real challenge, as it so often is, will be whether Celtic have given themselves the best possible chance of beating them.
Keep Your Eyes On The Board.
Phillip Cooney 
Aodhán Ó Conchobhair 
Eric Knott 
