Celtic fly to Linz for the formality.
Then the first goal goes in.
Then the second.
Then the third.
The away end goes quiet.
They just watch.
The final whistle confirms 1:5.
Not narrow. Not unlucky.
O'Neill steps up to face the press.
He doesn't look like a man searching for excuses.
"I'll take responsibility for this."
Behind him as he walks out: silence.
Celtic had never surrendered a four-goal first-leg lead in Europe like this. LASK Linz, an Austrian league side, walked into the Champions League group stage. O'Neill kept his job. The question that lingered: could Celtic rebuild before Europe came calling again?
