Brendan Rodgers described the defeat to Kairat and exit from the Champions League as a “massive shock” for the team. The Scottish club lost 3-2 on penalties after 210 minutes of fruitless fighting in Kazakhstan, continuing a run of four unsuccessful attempts to reach the group stage of the tournament.
Pictured: Daizen Maeda failed to capitalise on key moments in the match and missed in the post-match lottery.
The Celtic coach described the defeat as a “serious blow to the club's ambitions”, stressing that the team had missed the chance to continue playing in the prestigious tournament. After a goalless draw in regular and extra time, the outcome of the match was decided in a series of shots from the mark, where the hosts' young goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov repelled three attempts by the visitors.
The Scots, who reached the knockout stages last season, were again stopped just outside the group stage. The match in Almaty, 400km from the Chinese border, was a test for the players, who never found a way to the opponent's goal.
Poor execution from Adam Idah, Luke McCowan and Maeda allowed Kairat to go down in history as the second Kazakh club to reach the Champions League group. Rodgers admitted in a comment to Amazon Prime: “The disappointment is huge. We know our potential, but in these games we couldn’t reach it.”
- Celtic's Failure in Almaty: How It Happened — Match Details
- Old Firm on the Sky Sports app – Follow the action live 📱
- Get Sky without a contract – Watch top matches instantly 📺
Pictured: Arne Engels and Daizen Maeda after the final whistle.
“It's especially bitter considering the progress we made last year,” the coach added. “Our performance was inspiring back then, but now we've missed a unique opportunity. The consequences of this defeat are severe.”
Maeda could have won the game late in regulation, but his miss was a harbinger of a fiasco. Dominating in overtime, Celtic never got past their opponents' defense, and showed nerves in the deciding series.
The club's transfer policy problems, including failures to find replacements for Furuhashi and Kun, have exacerbated the situation. Rodgers said: “We understand the objectives, but to develop we need to take steps forward. It is important now to analyse the current situation and determine the direction of the move.”
“The level of play did not meet expectations,” the coach stated. “The pitch made it difficult to build attacks, but there are no excuses. We had moments, especially after the break, but in the decisive episodes we lacked composure. Now we need to focus on the Europa League.”
The financial impact of the failure is estimated at £20m, adding to criticism of the board for delaying strengthening the squad until Champions League qualification was assured.
Tactical Miscalculations and the Price of Overconfidence
For optimal performance of the video player, it is recommended to use the Chrome browser.
Sky Sports pundit Mark Wilson on the reasons behind Celtic's defeat to a team ranked 311th in Europe.
“The lack of investment in the summer off-season was a fatal mistake,” said the club's former defender. “Youth in key positions, an undeveloped squad depth – all this predetermined the outcome. The club relied on the available resources, and this led to collapse.”
Wilson said: “210 minutes of tasteless football is unacceptable for a team of this calibre. Kairat showed character and deserved to win. This should be a signal for Celtic to make immediate changes.”
Harsh reality instead of expected triumph
Pictured: Brendan Rodgers and Daizen Maeda after the match.
Sky Sports analyst Laura Hunter:
Celtic's defeat was the result of systemic miscalculations. With equal possession (51% vs. 49%), the hosts outdid the visitors in the fight (75 won challenges vs. 63), interceptions and number of shots on target. The decision to postpone transfers until guaranteed entry into the Champions League turned out to be a fatal gamble.
Rodgers, who returned to the club in 2023, faces a crisis of confidence. His inability to motivate the team to play against a clear underdog calls into question further cooperation. Unjustifiably low creativity in attack and lack of leadership on the field require urgent measures. Negotiations with the management will be a test for all parties.
Sourse: skysports.com
