Martin O'Neill has made it clear that Celtic should set their sights on winning the Champions League, even as they prepare for a crucial play‑off tie against Austrian champions LASK. The 74‑year‑old manager paid tribute to the legendary Lisbon Lions, the team that secured the club’s sole European Cup triumph in 1967, and argued that their legacy should serve as a benchmark for the modern squad despite the stark financial disparities that exist in today’s game.
O'Neill did not hide his disappointment at the recent departure of influential midfielder Arne Engels, who opted to join West Ham United for a fee reported to be around £22 million. Engels’ exit comes just days before the high‑stakes, £40 million‑valued encounter, leaving the manager to reshuffle his midfield options. Last season Celtic were eliminated at the same stage by Kazakh side Kairat Almaty, a result that underscored the challenges Scottish clubs face on Europe’s biggest stage. This year, however, the team returns with several new faces and a renewed determination to prove they belong among Europe’s elite.
When the Estadio Metropolitano hosts the 2027 Champions League final in Madrid, it will mark six decades since Celtic captain Billy McNeil lifted the trophy – an image that still stands in bronze outside Celtic Park. In those sixty years, the financial landscape of football has transformed dramatically. Scottish clubs no longer compete on a level playing field with the deep pockets of clubs in England, Spain, Germany, France and Italy. Nevertheless, O'Neill, a former European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest, insists that Celtic should still chase the seemingly impossible goal of emulating the Lisbon Lions.
"The bar was set in 1967," he told reporters before the LASK match. "From that moment on, Celtic should aspire to reach that level again. It may never happen, especially given how the financial market has shifted, but we must keep that ambition alive and work towards it with everything we have." The manager’s words reflect a broader tension in modern football: prestige and history versus the financial realities that drive club decisions. Celtic earned more than £40 million from their most recent Champions League campaign in 2024‑25, when they were knocked out by Bayern Munich in the first knockout round.
If they navigate the current play‑off successfully, they stand to collect roughly £16 million in guaranteed prize money, even if they lose every group‑stage match thereafter. Beyond the base payment, each draw in the competition brings an additional £600,000, while each victory is worth £1.8 million. Clubs also receive incremental sums based on their final league‑phase standing and progress through the knockout rounds. Moreover, UEFA’s "value pillar" – a complex distribution model that accounts for club coefficients and TV market values – could add another £14.4 million to £16.6 million to Celtic’s coffers, depending on how other teams perform.
Ticket revenue is another lucrative component. Historically, a sell‑out crowd at Celtic Park for a Champions League fixture can generate close to £10 million in gross ticket sales. When all these streams are combined, simply qualifying for the group stage can be worth an estimated £40 million, a figure that underscores why the boardroom places such emphasis on European success. The pressure on O'Neill and his staff has been mounting.
A year ago, a fifth consecutive failure to reach the group stage sparked fan protests, with supporters accusing the club hierarchy of neglect and complacency. Those demonstrations highlighted the growing impatience among the Celtic faithful, who demand both sporting ambition and prudent financial management. In response, the club has invested heavily in the squad this summer, spending over £30 million on players such as Kasper Hogh, Camilo Duran, Hasseim Hassan and Mika Baur.
Despite the loss of key figures like Daizen Maeda, Kasper Schmeichel, Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi, O'Neill believes the new arrivals provide enough quality to compete against LASK. "The players we have signed bring depth and talent," O'Neill said. "We may not have the same physical profile as Engels, but we have a range of options in midfield, including Baur, who can adapt to different roles. The nature of football is that squads evolve, and it’s up to the players to deliver on the pitch, whether in the Champions League or the Europa League." Engels’ departure was not unexpected; a £25 million bid from Nottingham Forest had been tabled on the January deadline, but he ultimately chose West Ham.
The timing of the final confirmation, however, left O'Neill with little opportunity to secure a direct replacement before the LASK fixtures. While the manager boasts a deep pool of midfield talent, he acknowledged that Engels’ blend of stamina, work‑rate and tactical intelligence is hard to replicate.
"Arne wanted to move on and avoid risking injury," O'Neill explained. "From his perspective, it makes sense.
For us, it’s disappointing because his running power and presence are unique. We’re still scouting for a suitable alternative and hope to finalize a signing before the window closes." Looking ahead, O'Neill emphasized a pragmatic approach: focus on each match, secure results, and keep the broader ambition alive.
"We’re concentrating on the immediate games, getting the best out of the squad, and hoping to progress. The long‑term goal of Champions League glory remains, but we must take it step by step," he concluded.
In summary, O'Neill’s message to Celtic is two‑fold: retain the historic ambition set by the Lisbon Lions and navigate the financial and competitive realities of modern football. By blending strategic investment, tactical flexibility, and a clear-eyed acknowledgment of the challenges, Celtic aim to re‑establish themselves on Europe’s biggest stage, with the play‑off against LASK serving as a crucial first hurdle.