Celtic

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Benjamin Nygren is adamant the Europa League is not an unwanted distraction for Celtic during their three-way fight for the Scottish title.

Victory at home to off-form Utrecht on Thursday night will earn Celtic a place in the knockout stage.

"I think every competition we're in is very important," said Nygren.

"We want to do well in every competition we're in. Celtic is a massive club and a massive club should be and do well in more competitions than just the league."

The Sweden attacker, Celtic's top scorer this season with 13 goals, has appeared in all of the club's European ties since joining from Danish side Nordsjaelland last summer.

He says the prospect of playing in Europe was one of the things that attracted him to Celtic.

"It's very important. I said it before I came here. I think Celtic has everything. Everyone in the world, almost everyone, knows about Celtic," he added.

"Since I was a kid I wanted to play in European competition and you always want to go as far as possible and win the tournament you're in."

Like the rest of his team-mates he'd rather Celtic were playing Champions League football this season instead of the second-tier competition.

A penalty shoot defeat by Kazakhstan's Kairat Almaty after two goalless draws resulted in Celtic dropping into the Europa.

"Everyone knows it hasn't been as we've all wanted," said Nygren. Of course, we wanted to play in the biggest competition but we can still make a lot out of this season. We would be very happy of course if we go through."

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Interim Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has been speaking to the media before his side face Utrecht in the Europa League on Thursday.

Here are the main points:

• O'Neill is "hopeful" and "reasonably confident" of making further signings, adding: "Whether we have anyone in before the weekend I don't know but we are making strenuous efforts."

• He says there are "lots of people" Celtic have taken an interest in and they have been "thwarted" on one or two.

• He acknowledges there will be anxiety among supporters regarding the lack of transfers.

• O'Neill says if Celtic beat Utrecht to reach the Europa League knockout stages they will need a "proper squad" and "as much quality as possible".

• The Parkhead boss is "disappointed" that the Scottish FA fast-track panel rejected the club's appeal against Auston Trusty's red card in the draw with Hearts.

• He adds: "It was nice to get the backing of a lot of referees who've refereed big, big matches when they were interviewed afterwards."

• On refereeing standards in Scotland, O'Neill offers a tongue-in-cheek reply: "I never had a problem with it in my first spell here 25 years ago, never had a problem at all with it all. I just expected no decisions to come our way."

• Despite Utrecht struggling for form and being on a five-game losing streak, O'Neill says they are a "very decent side" who can "cause you problems".

• On the prospect of progressing beyond the league phase: "It would be nice to get through to a knockout stage if we could do that. The more European matches you play, if you can afford to do it, you learn something. It's a great experience for some of the younger lads as well."

• Striker Kelechi Iheanacho trained on Wednesday and will be available for selection. Left-back Marcelo Saracchi - who has been out injured since early December - is also back in training.

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• Only Go Ahead Eagles (132) have faced more shots in the Europa League this season than Celtic (123), with the Parkhead club facing 36 on matchday seven against Bologna – the joint-second most ever by a team in a game since 2009-10.

• Celtic have won their past two major European matches against Dutch opponents, both times beating Feyenoord (in December 2023 and November 2025).

• Utrecht are winless in 10 away major European matches (D2 L8) since winning 4-0 at MSK Zilina in October 2003 – they've only netted two goals in their 10 away games since.

• Celtic went 2-0 up against Bologna last time out but drew 2-2 – they've won just two of their past six major European matches when going 2-0 up (D2 L2).

• Utrecht and Celtic last met in the 2010-11 Europa League qualifying phase play-offs – the Dutch side lost 2-0 away in the first leg but won 4-0 in the second leg to progress on aggregate.

Bodo/Glimt will decide 25-year-old striker Kasper Hogh's future after this week's Champions League game with Atletico Madrid. Celtic have made an enquiry but face competition from a number of club across Europe, including Norwich City. (Sky Sports)

Celtic have been told they will need to pay close to £7m to land Hogh. (Daily Record)

RB Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schafer has revealed they have held "good talks" with Celtic and Juventus transfer target Xaver Schlager about extending the Austria midfielder's stay beyond the end of the season. (Daily Record)

Juventus are at an advanced stage of securing the transfer of Schlager. (Fabrizio Romano on YouTube)

Hacken have rejected a £3.2m bid from an unnamed club for 21-year-old Danish midfielder Silas Andersen, who has been linked a number of clubs including Celtic and Rangers. (Fotbolldirekt)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

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Chris Sutton believes former club Celtic will be "absolutely stuffed" if they do not sign "three or four players" before the end of the January transfer window.

Interim boss Martin O'Neill, who managed Sutton at Celtic in the early 2000s, dropped Scottish Premiership points as Celtic manager for the first time this season in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Hearts.

January loan signings Julian Araujo and Tomas Cvancara started at Tynecastle, with the latter setting up Celtic's second goal.

"Celtic, at this moment in time, I think they'll finish third," Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"They've brought one striker in on loan. If Celtic do not add three or four, I think that they are absolutely stuffed.

"A lot has been made of Hearts and their recruitment and whether they will have a wobble.

"It seemed like [Sunday] would be the toughest test for Derek McInnes and his Hearts team and in truth, I thought they bullied Celtic, especially in the middle of the park.

"I thought they got Celtic playing the game that Hearts wanted. Now, it's just maintaining it for Hearts. Hearts were the much better team."

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Celtic striker Shin Yamada has been loaned out to the German second tier, joining Preussen Muenster until the end of this season.

The 25-year-old joined the Parkhead side from Japanese club Kawasaki Frontale last summer, but he has only made 12 appearances in all competitions.

The forward is yet to score or record an assist for Celtic and moves in the hope of gaining increased game time.

Preussen Muenster currently sit 15th in the Germany's second division.

Head coach Ron Jans, of Utrecht, has refused to resign following a fifth successive defeat, with the Dutch club visiting Celtic in the Europa League on Thursday. (Herald - subscription required), external

Reports in France indicate former Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy has been proposed for a role at Saint-Etienne. (Glasgow Times - subscription required), external

Hibernian midfielder Josh Mulligan, 23, reminds former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan of Scott Brown, the former Celtic captain. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Kasper Schmeichel has his critics these days but made a couple of big saves to help earn Celtic a point at Tynecastle in their 2-2 draw against Hearts.

He takes the gloves in my team of the week.

Watch Sportscene pundits Andy Halliday and Scott Allan discuss Celtic defender Auston Trusty's red card against Hearts.

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Celtic can expect to drop more points in the Scottish Premiership title race if their performance levels do not improve, says former midfielder Scott Allan.

Interim boss Martin O'Neill's winning domestic run came to an end on Sunday in a thrilling 2-2 draw at league leaders Hearts.

Celtic took the lead twice at Tynecastle but had to see out the match with 10 men following Auston Trusty's controversial red card.

The result means O'Neill's men drop to third and remain six points off the top.

Across both of O'Neill's caretaker spells this term, Celtic have won seven and drawn one of their Premiership matches, but BBC Scotland pundit Allan believes the manner of his former side's displays have been a concern.

"You only have to look back to a week or so ago when they played Falkirk, Celtic were lucky to come away with the win," he said.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, Allan added: "I thought Falkirk for large spells were the better side in that game. Defensively, Celtic managed to get through it.

"I don't think they performances have given you enough [belief that they will] claw back [the six-point deficit] at this moment in time.

"I think that would be the worry because, yes, O'Neill's come in and he has had to undo all that Wilfred Nancy done, picking them up again from the confidence levels they had, losing goals.

"So that side of it does look slightly better. Individual errors still are there, I would say that. But the consistency of performance for me, if it doesn't improve, I think Celtic will drop points."

We asked for your views on 10-man Celtic's thrilling 2-2 draw with Hearts on Sunday.

Here's what some of you said:

Norman: Celtic showed real grit to deny Hearts a home win despite a red card. Went ahead twice and showed enough resilience to make other title contenders think there's a reason why Celtic have dominated Scottish football recently.

Ray: On the Celtic sending off, Martin O'Neill is correct. Auston Trusty deserved a yellow, it's not a clear goalscoring opportunity and another defender is tracking back. The referee was correct but VAR interferes. VAR is refereeing games, and that's not what it was introduced for.

Border Bhoy: The referee made the correct call, a yellow card for Trusty, before VAR interfered, resulting in Steven McLean presumably feeling pressure to change his decision and red card Trusty. There was a Celtic defender beyond Trusty and the pass was heading in the direction of the corner flag, with the ball not under the control of a Hearts player. That decision cost Celtic victory. Having said that, a draw was probably a fair result but also reinforced the fact Celtic still need to strengthen in this transfer window if we want to retain the league title.

Fred: I thought that on the balance of play a draw was a fair result. I don't believe the second equaliser was anything to do with the sending off. I was more concerned because both goals we conceded came from a corner and a free-kick. We must tighten up in central defence. The sending off was not only of the soft variety but also was influenced by John Beaton on VAR encouraging the referee to have a second look at the incident. There was nothing blatant in the challenge, the ball was going away from goal, we had another player covering, so there was absolutely no guarantees that a goal would have resulted had Trusty not touched him as briefly as he did. O'Neill has a tough task on his hands to turn this around. More signings required ASAP, but Tomas Cvancara shaped well considering it was his first game in two months apparently.

Peter: Let's be realistic. With the level of ambition shown by the board we will finish third at best in league. That is a true reflection of the players currently at our club. Our failure to sign a goalscoring forward says a lot. There is no progress. We simply cannot beat what is in front of us with the players we have. It is not rocket science. O'Neill should walk if he is not given a quality centre-forward. Even then it may be too late.

Watch highlights as Hearts strike late to rescue a draw against 10-man Celtic in a thrilling Scottish Premiership draw at Tynecastle.

MATCH REPORT: Hearts 2-2 Celtic

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Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg does not believe VAR should have intervened in the eventual decision to send off Celtic defender Auston Trusty in Sunday's draw with Hearts. (Record), external

Celtic are competing with Brondby to sign Brann's Norway midfielder Felix Horn Myhre, 26. (Tipsbladet - in Danish), external

Meanwhile, Celtic are set for a windfall with former player and forward Oh Hyeon-Gyu, 24, expected to join Besiktas from Genk for £10m. (National - subscription required), external

Monday's Scottish gossip

Celtic stay six points behind Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership after a topsy-turvy thriller at Tynecastle that ends 2-2.

Martin O'Neill's side were twice ahead, but their hosts' second leveller came after the reigning champions were reduced to 10 men when Auston Trusty was shown a red card.

Rangers' win over Dundee means they overtake Celtic into second and are only four behind the Edinburgh side.

So where do you think that leaves Celtic's title hopes and what did you think of the game and a red card questioned by O'Neill?

Read the match report.

Give us your thoughts.

Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill is pleased that his side are "showing a great resolve" and insists that Auston Trusty should not have been sent off in Saturday's 2-2 draw away to Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts.

"It was a tough game - we knew it would be," he tells BBC Scotland.

"We scored a fine goal and were in reasonable control. They got an equaliser and the game was in the balance.

"We score a wonderful goal to retake the lead and the sending off has a major part to play in the final 20 minutes."

As for Trusty's dismissal, the second game in a row in which Celtic have finished with 10 men, O'Neill adds: "I've seen it back and I have to say I don't see it.

"Maybe I've been out of the game too long or have misread the rules. But, first of all, the ball that's played is going away from goal and we have a man round on the cover.

"It is not a red card. It is gone now, but it played a massive part.

"We fought magnificently again. It was topsy-turvy, it was tough. Hearts are up there in the league because they are a very fine side."