There was a peculiar moment on Wednesday when Martin O'Neill, the Celtic manager, resembled a geography teacher scanning a classroom for the correct answer. The location in question was Istanbul, but O'Neill was not conducting a quiz for the assembled media. Instead, he was seeking assistance, a telling sign of how the veteran coach viewed his team's slim chances of reaching the Europa League final on May 20.
A Night of Disappointment at Celtic Park
O'Neill need not concern himself with that distant final now. For Celtic, the journey concludes in Germany this Thursday after a comprehensive 4-1 defeat at home to Stuttgart. There can be no complaints about this outcome. Outplayed throughout by a polished Stuttgart outfit, O'Neill's team never appeared to believe they belonged in the latter stages of this prestigious competition.
Stuttgart were slick and ruthless in the defining moments, simply a class above anything Celtic could muster. Tiago Tomas rounded off the scoring with a killer fourth goal at Celtic Park, ensuring O'Neill's 1,000th match in the dugout could not have gone any worse. Jamie Leweling's strike for the third goal, which Kasper Schmeichel failed to deal with effectively, highlighted the gulf in quality.
Celtic Lacked the Quality to Challenge
O'Neill's men simply lacked the necessary quality to take down the Bundesliga giants. Had Sebastian Hoeness's side been in the mood to inflict more punishment, they likely could have done so. It spoke volumes that Celtic's only moment of joy came from a Stuttgart defensive error, allowing Benjamin Nygren to briefly square the first leg.
The Germans struck early through Bilal El Khannouss, with the Moroccan forward soon re-establishing their advantage after Nygren's equaliser. Schmeichel did not cover himself in glory with El Khannouss's first strike, and concerns about his ability at this level were amplified when Leweling netted Stuttgart's third in the second half.
You have to feel something for the 39-year-old Danish goalkeeper. An outstanding keeper in his prime, his best days are clearly behind him. His struggles are reflective of a club that no longer anticipates problems effectively, a sentiment echoed across the pitch.
O'Neill's Milestone Marred by Defeat
This was no way for O'Neill to mark his 1,000th game in professional management. A late fourth goal from Tiago Tomas rendered the return leg a mere formality, sealing just a second defeat in 19 matches across his two spells in charge this season. The loss arrived without Celtic ever suggesting they could dig out a spectacular victory.
Stuttgart had good reason to fancy securing progression with something to spare. They finished 11th in the group stage and had recently moved up to fourth place in the Bundesliga, showcasing their form and confidence.
Protest and Poor Start Set the Tone
O'Neill had no option but to field a strong side, with Paulo Bernardo as the only starter who might be considered a surprise. Prior to the match, when asked if he would mention his all-conquering side's aggregate triumph against Stuttgart back in 2003, the manager joked it would only ensure blank faces looking back at him. There might have been another reason: expecting this Celtic side to replicate the exploits of legends like Henrik Larsson would border on the absurd.
O'Neill's hopes of a fast start did not materialise. Rumours that fruitless talks between the Parkhead hierarchy and various supporters' groups would result in a protest were confirmed within seconds of kick-off. Dozens of tennis balls were thrown onto the field, causing a delay the manager could have lived without.
Stuttgart warmed to the task far sooner than Celtic. More comfortable on the ball, they made the Scots suffer, passing and probing while securing possession in dangerous areas. Tomas Cvancara, who had endured a torrid time at Borussia Monchengladbach, tried his utmost to make his mark against a familiar foe, but the service into him was infrequent and little better than hopeful punts.
Defensive Errors Prove Costly
Celtic lacked control and imagination. At times, Stuttgart toyed with them, wise to the threat of Daizen Maeda and Seb Tounekti on the flanks and deploying multiple defenders to thwart their progress. For all the visitors dominated the early exchanges, the manner of the opening goal would have irked O'Neill.
Schmeichel's aimless kick up the park saw Tounekti beaten in the air too easily. Deniz Undav showed awareness to roll the ball into the path of El Khannouss, who used neat footwork to set himself up for a shot. Despite it being a meek effort, it still had enough purchase to beat the Celtic keeper, not for the first time this season highlighting the Dane's struggles.
Celtic rallied briefly, with Tounekti dropping a shoulder and dancing in from the left, his strike brilliantly blocked by the stooping Josha Vagnoman. Yet, on 21 minutes, Stuttgart gifted Celtic an equaliser. Goalkeeper Alexander Nubel's straight pass to Atakan Karazor lacked conviction, and Karazor's attempt to control the ball was awful, allowing Nygren to round the keeper and net his 17th goal of the season.
Stuttgart's Superiority Shines Through
This should have elevated Celtic's display, but instead, their play remained punctuated by cheap turnovers and errors. Cvancara's mis-control 30 yards from goal put his side on the back foot, and Angelo Stiller's whipped cross caught the boot of Tounekti, a stroke of fortune for the Germans. With Nygren slow to react, El Khannouss planted a header in the back of the net to restore Stuttgart's lead.
O'Neill urged his players to keep hold of the ball and build something, but it just did not materialise. They huffed and puffed towards the interval, devoid of creativity or a serious goal threat. Bernardo stumbled over the ball at one point, but he was hardly alone in struggling.
When Auston Trusty missed a routine header, Stuttgart surged forward, with Undav feeding Leweling, whose effort flashed over the bar to the relief of home fans. Celtic had to find inspiration from somewhere, and Julian Araujo did his best with a barnstorming run beyond five opponents, though it lacked necessary support.
No Comeback in Sight
There was no concerted period of pressure from Celtic. On the balance of play, the third goal, which arrived on 57 minutes, was no more than the Germans deserved. It stemmed from a fine move down the right, cutting Celtic apart with one-touch passing. Undav played a smart ball across the area to Leweling, whose shot from the edge of the box was decent but no more than that, yet Schmeichel was again beaten far too easily.
The roof threatened to fall in when Demirovic looked like he had found the fourth with a clip over the Dane, only for VAR to spot he had strayed offside. Nygren thought he had reduced the deficit to one until Nubel clawed his strike away from the bottom corner.
Any hope of Celtic pulling the tie out of the fire was dashed deep into injury time. With the home defence static, Tomas broke the line, controlled the ball, and found the top corner, completing a thorough schooling and ending Celtic's European aspirations for another season.
