Celtic midfielder Mika Baur has lifted the lid on the sombre atmosphere inside the dressing room following the club’s stunning Champions League play-off collapse against LASK.
The 22-year-old German, who only joined from Paderborn a fortnight ago, described a silent and deeply sad environment after the 5-1 extra-time defeat in Linz.
Baur also issued a clear call for personal accountability across the entire squad as the Scottish champions drop into the Europa League.
Quiet Reflection After a Painful Night
Speaking in the mixed zone at the Raiffeisen Arena, Baur painted a vivid picture of the immediate aftermath.
“There’s not much going on, no one speaks,” he said. “Everyone is with themselves. At the moment, it’s really quiet and really, really sad in the locker room.”
The young midfielder, who started in central areas and was making only his third appearance in the green and white, looked visibly devastated.
His words captured the collective shock of a night that began with Celtic holding a commanding 4-0 aggregate lead and ended in one of the most painful European exits in recent club history.
Demanding Honest Self-Assessment
While manager Martin O’Neill publicly took full responsibility for the result, Baur insisted every individual must examine their own contribution.
“I think everybody should start by looking at himself,” Baur stated. “Even me, every player needs to ask himself if he did everything right today, to be able to see what he has to do better.”
That demand for self-assessment landed with particular weight coming from a new arrival still settling into life at Celtic Park.
Baur admitted the LASK defeat ranks as the toughest moment of his career so far.
“Yeah, it is,” he confirmed. “But I really try to not be sad at the moment. We still play Europa League. We still have a lot going on in Scotland.”
Looking Ahead With Focus
Despite the raw disappointment, Baur struck a determined note about the path forward.
“We need to move on tomorrow, stay together,” he added. “We need to come back and try better on Saturday. I think we had a really tough day today.”
“We lost a big match, but we have to move on. We need to stay together, even closer than before. I think it’s a tough time now, but I think the team is capable.”
Those final lines underline a clear message: unity and honesty must now drive the response.
How the Collapse Unfolded
Celtic had entered the second leg with a 3-0 advantage from the first match at Paradise.
Callum McGregor’s deflected strike after 21 minutes extended the aggregate lead to four goals and appeared to put the tie beyond doubt.
Yet LASK refused to accept the script. Moses Usor pulled one back before half-time, and the Austrian side then produced a relentless second-half surge.
Robert Ljubicic, Samuel Adeniran and a late Florian Flecker header forced extra time. Adeniran’s long-range strike in the additional period completed a remarkable 5-4 aggregate turnaround.
Celtic looked physically drained and tactically passive as the home side dominated second balls and pressed with intensity the visitors could not match.
Recent Domestic Form Offers Contrast
The European reverse stands in sharp contrast to Celtic’s bright start to the 2026-27 Scottish Premiership campaign.
Martin O’Neill’s side sit top of the table with maximum points from two matches, having scored six goals and conceded just one.
A hard-fought 1-0 win over Dundee on the opening weekend was followed by a dominant 5-1 victory away at Kilmarnock.
They also progressed in the League Cup with a convincing 4-0 success at Dundee United.
That domestic momentum now faces an immediate test. Celtic return to Premiership action this Saturday against Falkirk at Celtic Park, where a strong response will be expected.
Tactical Questions Raised
The manner of the defeat in Austria has already sparked debate about Celtic’s ability to manage games from positions of strength.
Captain Callum McGregor was brutally honest afterwards, describing the performance as passive and admitting the team looked “scared” to go and win the match.
Former players and pundits highlighted a lack of physical intensity and decision-making under pressure once LASK gained momentum.
O’Neill himself noted that missed chances early in the second leg handed the home side a lifeline they never relinquished.
Baur’s call for every player to look in the mirror aligns with the captain’s insistence that there can be no excuses.
Fan Reaction and the Road Ahead
Supporters who travelled to Linz or watched from home have expressed a mixture of anger, disbelief and concern.
Many have pointed to the financial and prestige cost of missing out on the Champions League league phase once again.
Yet there is also recognition that the squad still possesses quality and that the Europa League presents a competitive platform.
Baur’s emphasis on staying together and focusing on the next challenge has been welcomed by sections of the support as the right mindset.
The midfielder’s rapid integration into the group after arriving from Germany’s second tier has been one of the quieter positives of the summer window.
His willingness to speak so openly so early in his Celtic career suggests a player ready to take ownership.
O’Neill’s Responsibility and Collective Accountability
Martin O’Neill has been characteristically forthright, ranking the night among the most disappointing of his long career and comparing the pain to the 2003 UEFA Cup final defeat.
The veteran manager has made clear that responsibility sits with him as the man in charge.
At the same time, Baur’s intervention reinforces that the players themselves accept the need for personal scrutiny.
That dual approach—managerial ownership paired with individual self-assessment—may prove crucial in the coming weeks.
Celtic remain well placed domestically and will enter the Europa League with the chance to rebuild confidence on the continental stage.
The immediate priority, however, is the home fixture against Falkirk this weekend.
A positive result and a more assertive performance would provide the first evidence that the difficult lessons from Linz have been absorbed.
What Comes Next for the Squad
Baur stressed the importance of moving on quickly while remaining tightly knit.
That message will likely be repeated in the training ground conversations that follow.
With the transfer window still open for a short period, attention may also turn to whether further reinforcements are required to strengthen the squad’s depth.
For now, though, the focus rests on the players currently at the club looking honestly at their own displays.
Mika Baur has set the tone with his candid assessment of both the dressing-room mood and the need for self-examination.
How the rest of the squad responds will shape Celtic’s trajectory through the remainder of what has already become a defining early chapter of the season.
The quiet, sad locker room in Austria must now give way to a more determined and unified group ready to prove its character on the pitch.