Celtic fans have been left furious after their side suffered another painful Europa League defeat, with supporters questioning one player’s place in Martin O’Neill’s starting XI following a disastrous night at Celtic Park.
The Hoops looked to have given themselves a lifeline when Mika Baur fired them in front shortly after half-time against Celta Vigo on Thursday night. However, what followed was another European collapse that left the home supporters with more questions than answers.
Celtic ultimately suffered a 2-1 defeat, their third consecutive loss in the Europa League league phase, and the result has intensified the pressure on a team struggling to make its mark on the continental stage.
But while the final scoreline told one story, the circumstances surrounding the defeat created an even bigger talking point among supporters.
One particular member of the Celtic team is now facing scrutiny after the Spanish visitors turned the match around in devastating fashion, scoring twice in the space of just four minutes to silence the home crowd.
And the player at the centre of the debate is goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
The former England international was handed an opportunity to start between the posts after Viljami Sinisalo was left on the bench, despite Celtic’s impressive domestic victory over Hearts in their previous outing.
However, the decision ultimately did little to inspire confidence as Celtic surrendered their advantage and suffered another setback in Europe.
According to The Scottish Sun’s match report, Johnstone had dealt comfortably with the efforts he faced during the opening half, but he was unable to prevent Celta Vigo from completing their comeback after the interval.
The result has placed the spotlight firmly on Celtic’s goalkeeping situation, with supporters likely to question whether O’Neill should restore Sinisalo to the starting lineup for the club’s next fixture.
Celtic’s problems were not limited to their goalkeeper, however, and the manner of their defeat made the result particularly difficult to accept.
The hosts had struggled to impose themselves for long periods during the first half, with Celta Vigo enjoying possession and moving the ball around with greater composure.
Nevertheless, Celtic appeared to have found a way to turn the contest in their favour when Haissem Hassan drove forward early in the second half.
The winger delivered a dangerous ball into the penalty area, and although Celta defender Sebastián Cáceres intervened, the clearance fell invitingly for Baur.
The German midfielder made no mistake with his first-time effort, sending the ball beyond Ionuț Radu to give Celtic a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute.
For a brief period, Celtic Park had reason to believe that the home side could finally secure a positive European result.
That optimism did not last long.
Celta Vigo continued to search for an equaliser, and their persistence eventually paid off in the 68th minute.
Hugo Álvarez delivered a dangerous free-kick into the Celtic penalty area, where Javi Rodríguez rose to meet the ball and powered a header beyond Johnstone.
The equaliser changed the atmosphere inside Celtic Park, but the worst was still to come for the home supporters.
Just three minutes later, Rodríguez struck again, collecting the ball around 20 yards from goal before unleashing a powerful effort that beat Johnstone and completed the turnaround.
Within a matter of minutes, Celtic had gone from leading the contest to chasing a game they would ultimately lose.
For supporters already frustrated by the club’s European performances, the collapse was another painful reminder of the problems facing O’Neill’s side.
The Scottish Sun reported that some Celtic fans began heading towards the exits after the second goal, underlining the growing frustration surrounding the team’s performances in Europe.
The defeat also left Celtic with zero points from their opening three Europa League matches, placing them 35th in the 36-team league phase at the time of the report.
That position makes their European campaign increasingly difficult, with the team now needing a significant improvement if they are to revive their hopes of progressing in the competition.
Unsurprisingly, the reaction among supporters online was dominated by anger, disappointment and questions about the team’s ability to compete against European opposition.
In a discussion on Reddit’s Scottish Football community following the match, one supporter criticised Celtic’s approach when chasing the game, arguing that the team continued passing the ball around at the back despite trailing 2-1.
Another fan questioned the team’s mentality under pressure, writing that Celtic appeared impressive when in control but struggled when opponents began applying pressure.
Other comments focused on the wider problems facing Scottish clubs in European competition, with several supporters expressing frustration at the gulf in technical quality between Celtic and their Spanish opponents.
While these reactions do not establish that every Celtic supporter wants Johnstone dropped, they demonstrate the scale of the disappointment following another European defeat.
Johnstone’s performance will inevitably be scrutinised because of the two goals Celtic conceded, particularly given the timing of Rodríguez’s double.
However, it would be unfair to attribute the entire defeat to the goalkeeper.
Celta Vigo had enjoyed long spells of possession before the break, and Celtic struggled to create enough consistent attacking pressure to control the match. The visitors also demonstrated their ability to respond immediately after falling behind, exposing weaknesses in the home side’s organisation.
Rodríguez deserves considerable credit for his decisive contribution, while the delivery from Álvarez for the equaliser proved crucial.
Celtic’s inability to protect their lead was therefore a collective failure, even if the goalkeeper’s role in the decisive moments has become a major talking point.
There were also positives for O’Neill to consider. Young striker Callum Osmand showed energy and willingness to run at the opposition before being replaced by James Forrest after suffering cramp.
Hassan also played an important role in creating the opening goal, demonstrating the attacking threat Celtic can produce when their wide players move forward with greater purpose.
Those contributions, however, were not enough to prevent another disappointing result.
The question now is whether O’Neill will make changes to his starting lineup after the defeat.
Sinisalo will have a case for returning to the team, particularly after being left out despite Celtic’s convincing domestic win over Hearts. At the same time, a decision to replace Johnstone would not automatically solve the defensive and tactical problems exposed against Celta Vigo.
The manager must determine whether the defeat was primarily the result of individual errors, collective defensive shortcomings or a combination of both.
Johnstone’s immediate challenge will be to respond to the criticism and demonstrate that he can regain confidence after another difficult evening.
For Celtic, however, the bigger issue is the growing pattern of European disappointment. Three defeats from three matches have left the club with little room for further mistakes, and the pressure to produce a response will only increase.
The defeat against Celta Vigo was not simply about two goals conceded in quick succession. It was about a team that briefly appeared to be in control before losing its advantage and failing to recover.
Celtic supporters will now be looking to O’Neill for answers, and his next team selection could provide an early indication of whether he believes changes are necessary.
Will Johnstone be given another opportunity to prove himself, or will Sinisalo return between the posts?
After another bruising night in Europe, that is a question Celtic’s manager can no longer ignore.
What do you think, Celtic fans? Should Sam Johnstone be dropped immediately after the defeat to Celta Vigo, or does the blame lie with the entire team?
