Chris Sutton has questioned Celtic's transfer strategy following their Champions League exit to LASK.
The Scottish champions suffered a dramatic collapse in Austria on Tuesday night, going out of the competition despite holding a 3-0 first-leg advantage.
People can say what they like about the collapse and I respect that but why sell your legs in midfield and weaken your team when the biggest games of the season are around the corner. Why sell Maeda? It’s just stupid… the justification is in the winning… Celtic lost…
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) August 25, 2026
Callum McGregor’s goal extended the aggregate lead to 4-0, but LASK struck five times across normal time and extra time to send Celtic into the Europa League.
The result has intensified scrutiny of Celtic’s summer business, with Martin O’Neill’s squad short of options in several areas during the qualifying tie. Writing on X after the match, former Celtic striker Sutton said: "Fail to prepare, prepare to fail."
He later added: "People can say what they like about the collapse and I respect that, but why sell your legs in midfield and weaken your team when the biggest games of the season are around the corner?
Read more
-
Mika Baur reveals Celtic dressing room feeling after LASK collapse
-
Martin O'Neill on why he's taking full responsibility for crushing Celtic defeat
-
Callum McGregor in Celtic 'scared' admission as he assesses what went wrong
"Why sell Maeda? It’s just stupid... The justification is in the winning... Celtic lost."
Celtic have made four signings during the summer window but went into the LASK double-header without senior cover in goal and at left-back. Their midfield options were also limited, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain unavailable through suspension.
The departures of Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels have also raised questions about squad depth, particularly in the centre of the pitch for the latter.
.png?w=600)
