Martin O'Neill insists that Celtic should set their sights on winning the Champions League as they prepare for the upcoming play‑off qualifier against Austrian champions LASK. The 74‑year‑old manager paid tribute to the legendary Lisbon Lions, who secured the club’s most historic triumph by lifting the European Cup in 1967, and argued that their legacy should inspire the current squad despite the financial realities of modern football.
O'Neill also voiced his disappointment at the recent departure of influential midfielder Arne Engels, who joined West Ham United for a fee reported to be around £22 million after a £25 million bid from Nottingham Forest fell short. Engels’ exit comes just days before the crucial £40 million‑valued tie, leaving the manager with a short window to find a suitable replacement. After last season’s early exit at the hands of Kazakh side Kairat Almaty, the Scottish champions return to Europe with a refreshed roster and a point to prove.
By the time the Estadio Metropolitano hosts the 2027 Champions League final in Madrid, it will have been six decades since Celtic captain Billy McNeil lifted the trophy, an image now immortalised in bronze outside Celtic Park. The landscape of football has shifted dramatically over those sixty years. Scottish clubs no longer possess the financial firepower of elite teams from England, Spain, Germany, France or Italy.
Nevertheless, O'Neill – a two‑time European Cup winner as a player with Nottingham Forest – has challenged his players to emulate the ambition of the club’s most celebrated heroes. "I've said all along, the bar was set here back in 1967," O'Neill told reporters before the match. "From that moment on, Celtic should be aspiring to that level.
We may never reach it, especially given how the financial market has evolved in football, but the ambition should remain. The European Cup, now called the Champions League, is the target, and we will give everything we have to chase it." While prestige and the chance to compete on football’s biggest stage motivate players and coaches, the financial incentives are equally compelling for the club’s board. Celtic earned more than £40 million from their last Champions League campaign in 2024/25, where they were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the first knockout round.
If O'Neill’s side can navigate the play‑off against LASK, they stand to receive roughly £16 million in guaranteed prize money, even if they lose all eight group‑stage matches. Beyond the base payment, each draw in the group stage is worth about £600,000, while each victory brings £1.8 million. Additional sums are awarded based on final league‑phase placement and progression through the knockout rounds.
According to Football Meets Data, Celtic could also collect between £14.4 million and £16.6 million from UEFA’s "value pillar" distribution, which allocates funds based on club coefficients and TV market values. The exact figure will fluctuate depending on which teams advance to the group stage.
Ticket revenue adds another lucrative layer. Historical data suggests that four sold‑out home matches at Celtic Park could generate roughly £10 million in gross ticket sales. In total, qualifying for the Champions League could be worth an estimated £40 million before a single ball is kicked.
A year ago, a fifth consecutive failure to reach the group stage threatened to derail Celtic’s season and sparked fan protests aimed at the board. Supporters accused the hierarchy of neglect, complacency and gambling on Champions League qualification, with banners and statements from official and ultras groups reflecting the frustration. In response, the club has poured significant funds into the squad this summer, spending over £30 million on new signings such as Kasper Hogh, Camilo Duran, Hasseim Hassan and Mika Baur.
Despite losing key players like Daizen Maeda, Kasper Schmeichel, Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi, O'Neill believes the team is still well‑equipped to face LASK. "The players who remain understand what we need to achieve," he said. "We are focused on getting results in the matches and progressing as far as we can. I like the players we have brought in, and I think they will start to show their quality over the course of the season, whether in the Champions League or the Europa League." Engels’ departure, while perhaps inevitable, could not have come at a worse time.
The Belgian international’s move was only confirmed on Saturday, leaving O'Neill with limited opportunity to sign a direct like‑for‑like replacement. The manager does have a range of midfield options, including new signing Baur, but acknowledges that no one matches Engels’ unique blend of stamina and physical presence. "Arne wanted to leave, and he didn’t want to risk injury," O'Neill explained.
"It’s understandable, but for the club it is disappointing because his running power is hard to replace. It’s a blow for these two games, but there’s nothing we can change now. We are still scouting for a suitable replacement and hope to have someone in before the transfer window closes." Overall, O'Neill’s message is clear: Celtic should continue to dream big, honour the legacy of the Lisbon Lions, and strive for the ultimate European prize, even if the odds are stacked against them. The upcoming clash with LASK will be the first step on that ambitious journey, and the financial windfall from a successful qualification could provide the resources needed to build a squad capable of challenging the continent’s elite in the seasons to come.