Yesterday ended up a rollercoaster of emotions as we watched Celtic battle for a point at Tynecastle in a game that we knew we dared not lose if we wanted to keep ourselves in the title race…
Cláudio Braga of Hearts scores during the Scottish Premiership match between Hearts and Celtic at Tynecastle Park on January 25, 2026. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)
We had the highs of taking the lead twice, the lows of conceding twice from set pieces and we also had the added misery of watching on as Steven McLean and John Beaton tried their hardest to make sure Celtic left Edinburgh empty handed.
Even though I felt like it was two points dropped come full time, under the circumstances it was probably a decent result, one that doesn’t change very much in the overall title race picture. It was clear to see that Thursday night’s exertions took a heavy toll on the players, which isn’t surprising after giving their all against Bologna whilst playing with ten men for most of the game.
Auston Trusty walks off after being shown a red card. Martin O’Neill looks on. Hearts v Celtic, 25 January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou.
Due to a bit of good old Anti-Celtic bias from the officials, we also had to play the last 20 minutes yesterday a man down due to the incorrect red card shown to Auston Trusty.
Celtic were poor yesterday, there’s no doubt about it. The fact we were still a match for Hearts whilst playing badly and coming off the back of a extremely tiring away day trip to Italy shows that Hearts are nothing special.
Neither are their Glasgow cousins which makes the fact we have struggled against them so far this season all the more frustrating. At full time I was thinking that if we had a free week leading up to this huge match, like our opponents did, would we have taken all three points? I certainly think the performance would have been better. You could tell the Hearts players were so much fresher than us as the game went on.
Martin O Neill, manager of Celtic reacts after the match Bologna v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Group Stage, Renato Dall Ara Stadium, Bologna, Italy – 22 January 2026. Photo Michael Zemanek Shutterstock
This got me wondering, is our continued Europa League participation actually starting to become a hindrance?
After being embarrassed by Kairat Almaty in the Champions League qualifiers we of course were demoted to the Europa League. There was certainly less excitement around our European campaign from that moment on, after all as fans we always feel that Celtic belong at the top table. The draw however threw up some decent ties and I have enjoyed a lot of the games, being in Rotterdam for the Feyenoord match has definitely been a season highlight for myself.
So we head into Thursday home tie against Utrecht with qualification to the Knockout stage firmly within our grasp. A win and we are through, it’s as simple as that.
Tomas Cvancara, Benjamin Nygren and Hyunjun Yang of Celtic celebrate during the Scottish Premiership match between Heart of Midlothian and Celtic at Tynecastle Park on January 25, 2026. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)
After yesterday however I find myself thinking, do we really want to qualify? I know many will be appalled a Celtic fan could even think this way, but hear me out. What will we actually get from continuing on in the Europa League?
Firstly, does anyone actually believe we are good enough to get into the latter stages, where the excitement really starts to build up?
Benjamin Nygren acknowledges the Celtic fans after scoring during the Scottish Premiership match between Hearts and Celtic at Tynecastle Park on January 25, 2026. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)
Personally I think that with the current squad the furthest we could hope for is the quarter finals, and even that’s a push. I’ve been saying recently that I feel this squad, with the current injuries we have, is probably the worst since the Ronny Delia days. Some may fantasise about going on another run like we did under Martin O’Neill in 2003, but those two squads are worlds apart.
So if our chances are slim of making our mark in the latter stages of the competition then what do we actually gain out of it? Helping the coefficient? Scottish teams have performed terribly over the last few years in Europe, a run in the Europa League by us isn’t going to magically repair years of damage.
What about the money we will make?
Chris McKay, Michael Nicholson and Brian Wilson – Auchinleck Talbot v Celtic, Scottish Cup 4th Round, Rugby Park. Sunday 18 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou ( The Celtic Star)
Well, firstly the money on offer in the Europa League is a fraction of what we would be getting in the Champions League. Just simply qualifying for that tournament would probably provide more cash than a run to the Europa League final would bring in.
Even if it did bring in a lot of extra money, what does it even matter? We are run by a board who aren’t fit to run a youth club never mind a huge club like Celtic.
The money would either be hoarded away as usual or spent on the next ‘project’ in some backwater league like the Israeli one. Even worse it could be spent on the next wide boy who proclaims to be a ‘Football Doctor’ or the next Pep Guardiola emerging from a top league like the MLS.
Celtic Manager Wilfried Nancy Celtic Team Training and press conference, Lennoxtown Training Ground, 2 January 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock
Would I be happy then to see us fail to beat Utrecht on Thursday and end our European adventure for the year? Well I certainly won’t be hoping for it, but at the same time I wouldn’t be as devastated as I normally would be when we have exited Europe.
If you look back at say the last ten years you will see our form usually picks up after the new year, which just happens to coincide with our exit from Europe and less games per week. In some of the previous years if we were in this situation we would have the luxury of a healthy lead at the top of the table, so going all out in Europe seemed less a risk.
This season with it all on the line in a three way title race, one we are currently sitting third in, rest between games could be vital. If we continue in Europe we continue with the two games a week scenario, as well as a lot more travelling involved. All the while our two biggest challengers will be enjoying some rest, whilst being able to fully concentrate on their next league game.
Callum MCGregor at Tynecastle. Hearts v Celtic, 25 January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
If we had a strong squad this wouldn’t be such a problem, but with multiple key players still injured and a transfer window that is ever increasingly looking like it’s going to be another major disappointment, I genuinely feel like Europe at this time feels like an added burden we don’t need.
To me the most important thing this season is the league title. Nothing else really matters.
I would rather look back in the future and remember this as a terrible season overall but one where we ground out five in a row as opposed to the season we made the quarter finals of the Europa League, as we watched either Hearts or theRangers claim the league title. Wouldn’t you?
Conall McGinty
Do you agree with Conall or think he’s got this one badly wrong? Have your say in the comments below.
