Martin O'Neill and Callum McGregor launch passionate defence of 'amazing' Kasper Schmeichel after Celtic's UEFA Europa League defeat to Stuttgart

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Kasper Schmeichel and Celtic had a night to forget after a heavy 4-1 defeat to Stuttgart in the UEFA Europa League. Neither Martin O'Neill nor Callum McGregor reference the boos from the fans directly, but hailed the achievements of Schmeichel during his time at the club. Meanwhile, Neil Lennon and Stiliyan Petrov addressed the fan criticism more directly in their analysis for TNT Sports.

Highlights: Celtic slump to heavy Stuttgart defeat

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Celtic manager Martin O’Neill and captain Callum McGregor spoke out in defence of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in the aftermath of a 4-1 UEFA Europa League defeat to Stuttgart.

Schmeichel had a night to forget in Glasgow after making a couple of telling errors for Stuttgart's first and third goals.

A poor clearance from The Hoops shot-stopper gifted possession back to Stuttgart, before ultimately allowing Bilal El Khannouss' strike to slip past him.

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The Dane arguably then should have done much better to keep Julian Araujo's third for the Bundesliga side, as the Scottish champions succumbed to a heavy defeat.

However, O’Neill refused to lay any blame with Schmeichel in his post-match interview and told TNT Sports: "Kasper Schmeichel has made some great saves since I've been at the football club. I know there was the game against Feyenoord where we did brilliantly, where he pulls off a great save there, otherwise we might not have been playing tonight. This is a collective.

When asked if he knew Schmeichel had been booed by Celtic’s fans, O’Neill replied: "I didn't [know] if you tell me that's the case, I genuinely don't know.

"I will think about all sorts of things during the course of the game, but Kasper Schmeichel has done really well since I arrived at the football club in the two spells."

McGregor defends Schmeichel: 'There's no blame'

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McGregor also echoed O'Neill's sentiments and highlighted just how important Schmeichel has been to the team.

"Listen, everyone makes mistakes, everyone has off nights. Kasper has been amazing since he came to the club. He's been a big part of our success, a big player in the dressing room for us as well.

"He'll dust that down and go again. We're all the same and all in it together. We win as a team and lose as a team, so there's no blame in terms of any of the players looking at him.

"He's made so many big saves for us and will bounce back for sure."

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

Video credit: TNT Sports

Not the Celtic way

Former Celtic midfielders Neil Lennon and Stiliyan Petrov also criticised those fans who booed Schmeichel, also hailing the contribution which the goalkeeper has made to the club.

"It's bitterly disappointing, and it's not the Celtic way," added Lennon.

"I've been associated with this club on and off since 2000 and I've never seen supporters treat a player as distinguished to the club, who has won trophies and played in Europe like that.

"He's had a bad night, but it doesn't warrant that sort of treatment, so I'm really disappointed with that.

Petrov then added: "It's human nature. We're looking for someone to take the blame, and it seems like at the moment, the spotlight is on Kasper Schmeichel. He had a bad game, but I don't think the team overall performed.

"Some of the goals he could've reacted better, but overall, the team hasn't performed. Overall, it's a great interview from Callum, he knows how important Kasper will be over the next couple of months."

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