Martin O'Neill hits out at Celtic protests as Stuttgart run riot in UEFA Europa League play-off - 'Sends the wrong message'

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Martin O'Neill condemned supporters who staged a protest against the board as Celtic were dealt a heavy home defeat to Stuttgart in the UEFA Europa League. The 4-1 loss cast a shadow over O'Neill’s 1,000th match in management, marking his first home loss of his latest spell in charge as the Bundesliga side all but sealed their progress.

Highlights: Celtic slump to heavy Stuttgart defeat

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Martin O'Neill criticised his own fans who staged a protest as Celtic suffered a damaging and likely decisive UEFA Europa League play-off first-leg defeat to Stuttgart.

O'Neill’s 1,000th game in management ended in bitter disappointment as he suffered a first home defeat of his latest spell in charge with the Bundesliga side good value for their 4-1 victory at Parkhead.

Bilal El Khannouss’ first-half brace, either side of a composed finish from Benjamin Nygren, put Stuttgart firmly in control as they exposed Celtic's defensive frailties and left the hosts facing a daunting task to progress.

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It was a difficult evening for goaSchmeichel, who appeared culpable for the opening goal and could not keep out Jamie Leweling's second-half effort, which extended the visitors' advantage.

A late fourth from Tiago Tomas sealed the result, ending Celtic's 10-match unbeaten run since Wilfried Nancy's departure and leaving their European hopes hanging by a thread.

Celtic supporters have staged protests at matches this season, frustrated by what they saw as another disappointing transfer window from a board that has issued insufficient engagement.

Their feelings were expressed within a minute of Thursday's encounter when tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch to temporarily halt the game - much to O'Neill's dismay.

"Anyone who thinks that is a good idea, needs their head examined," he told TNT Sports.

"A way back, this was an incredibly difficult, intimidating place to come. Teams like Juventus were terrified coming here.

"That sort of thing does not help at all. What it does do is Stuttgart find out there's a lot of infighting going on. It sends the wrong message. It doesn't make sense to me. If I'm a Stuttgart player, I'm pretty happy if that's the case."

O'Neill takes aim at Celtic fans over protests and Schmeichel criticism

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O'Neill said his side had contributed heavily to their own downfall in a bruising European defeat but he defended goalkeeper Schmeichel and voiced frustration at the early protest that disrupted the match, arguing it only emboldened their opponents.

O'Neill told TNT Sports: "It's a tough evening for us. On paper, 4-1 looks pretty poor. We were masters of our own downfall in many respects, conceded some poor goals. Kasper has made some great saves while I've been here. This is a collective, there's no doubt about that.

"I will think about all sorts of things, but Kasper has done really well since I've arrived at the football club, in both spells.

"At some point, Celtic will become a top quality European team. That's in the future. At this moment our battles are elsewhere. Our focus now is totally on Sunday.

"It's very difficult for Scottish teams. There's no money. You're talking about Premier League sides and Bundesliga sides buying players for £40 million and them not playing."

Lennon: That wasn't a Martin O'Neill team

Neil Lennon said he saw no resemblance to a "Martin O'Neill team" during a chastening night for his former club.

Lennon told TNT Sports: "It was totally underwhelming and a very passive performance from Celtic on a big European night. They defended poorly all night. We were looking for a reaction at half-time, there was for five or 10 minutes but then the third Stuttgart goal burst Celtic's bubble.

"The players didn't defend well and they were far too standoffish. That is not a Martin O'Neill team or a Martin O'Neill performance. Probably the most disappointed person inside the stadium will be the manager tonight. I cannot believe the lack of passion and desire that Celtic showed tonight. It was far too easy for Stuttgart."

'It seems like the club is pulling apart' - Petrov on Celtic fans' protests

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Under O'Neill, Celtic have delivered some of their most memorable European performances, including a 3-1 victory in their last home meeting with Stuttgart back in 2003 on their way to the UEFA Cup final in Seville.

Twenty-three years on, they never came close to recapturing that feeling and now head into the return leg against a side fourth in the Bundesliga needing a first-ever victory on German soil. Stuttgart have only lost to Bayern Munich at home all season.

O’Neill had warned beforehand of the scale of the challenge. That prediction rang true - yet, in the end, Celtic's most formidable opponent appeared to be their own shortcomings.

"Sometimes, the players have to get the fans going, and tonight they never did," Lennon continued. "I'm not saying the players didn't try, but they lacked power, intensity and defensive capacity.

"Stuttgart also had a goal disallowed which was borderline so you could have been looking at a 5-1 scoreline. It was far too easy.

"There was no defensive diligence and then Kasper Schmeichel didn't have one of his better nights in goal. What was in front of him was what disappointed me more than anything.

Scales delivers terse interview after disappointing loss to Stuttgart

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"Let's be honest, Celtic are not getting back into this tie. If they play like they did tonight, it could be even more. What's more disappointing is the manner of the defeat. There was a disconnect all night. On the pitch, in the stands.

"There was nobody to light the fuse. It was too easy. It could so easily have been five. The finishing was erratic and the set-piece delivery was poor all night. Whether the protest at the start of the game had anything to do with it, this is Celtic Park on a European night. This is as good as it gets. Go out and express yourself, but it was so disjointed.

"The temperature was so low. It was the polar opposite of what we expect here on a European night. [Schmeichel being jeered] is bitterly disappointing. He had a bad night but it still doesn't warrant that kind of treatment."

McGregor: We have to claw some pride back

The last time O'Neill lost at Celtic Park was against Hibernian in April 2005. Hibs return on Sunday, though the immediate task is far more daunting: overturning a heavy deficit in Germany with a first-ever win there and by a considerable margin. Few would wager on such a turnaround.

There are faint echoes of Munich in last season's Champions League play-off, when Celtic were denied by Bayern's dramatic late equaliser. Yet that level of performance feels some distance away now.

McGregor defends Schmeichel: 'There's no blame'

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Progression appears improbable. Still, captain Callum McGregor has urged his team-mates to salvage pride in the return leg, stressing that much remains on the line this season - not least the defence of the Scottish Premiership title.

"We have to keep going and we have to keep fighting," McGregor told TNT Sports. "There's still so many big games. This won't define our season. We've got a big focus now on Sunday and then when we go to Germany next week, we've got to try and claw some pride back.

"It's a difficult night, but come Sunday [at home to Hibs] we have to be ready", he added.

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