There is an awkward truth about recruitment being to blame for Celtic's Champions League collapse against LASK on Tuesday night. The Bhoys took a three-goal lead into the second leg and made it four before half-time, but LASK also pulled one back before the break.
The Austrian champions went on to score four more without reply, including one in extra-time, and it will now be them who compete in the Champions League this season. Celtic, meanwhile, will drop into the Europa League.#
The players and the board each have a lot to answer for, and we have already written plenty about the shortcomings of the board, and how that held the Bhoys back in this qualifying tie, but there is an awkward truth that even we cannot ignore.
Celtic still had more than enough
Celtic have made only four new signings this summer, and they have gaps at left-back, midfield and goalkeeper, albeit the latter wasn't at play here, with Viljami Sinisalo putting in fine performances in both legs.
There are undoubtedly problems with this squad, but the bottom line is that Celtic have a squad valued at £99.75million by Transfermarkt and can rely on the help of 14 players who play international football, not counting injuries.
Meanwhile, LASK have a squad valued at £37.5million, only possessing four national team players.
For anyone not able to do the maths, Celtic's squad is worth well over double and close to three time as much as LASK's. That is a chasm in quality that should overcome any squad weaknesses that may exist, and let's not forget, LASK themselves will feel they are still short in certain areas, with the transfer window still open.
This Celtic squad needs help. There is no denying it. But this was a major upset regardless of that, and while football is not played on paper, this was a major failure from this team, and the numbers show it.
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