Chris Sutton blasts ‘stupid’ Celtic transfer decision after Champions League collapse

Chris Sutton has questioned Celtic’s decision to sell Arne Engels before their Champions League fate was decided following the disastrous collapse against LASK.

Celtic appeared to have the tie under complete control when Callum McGregor’s goal in Linz moved Martin O’Neill’s side 4-0 ahead on aggregate.

LASK then struck five times without reply to complete a remarkable turnaround and condemn the Hoops to another Champions League qualifying failure.

McGregor admitted afterwards that Celtic had been “passive” and “scared”, but Sutton believes questions must also be asked about the squad O’Neill was handed for the biggest games of the season.

The former Celtic striker had already taken aim at the board immediately after the final whistle, posting a message identical to the one he shared following last season’s Champions League exit against Kairat Almaty.

Sutton has now doubled down on his criticism, pointing specifically towards Celtic’s decision to sell Engels to West Ham for £22million just days before the first leg against LASK.

He said: “People can say what they like about the collapse and I respect that but why sell your legs in midfield and weaken your team when the biggest games of the season are around the corner. Why sell Maeda? It’s just stupid… the justification is in the winning… Celtic lost…”

Sutton had raised the same concern when Engels departed, highlighting the energy and physical presence the Belgian offered Celtic in the middle of the pitch.

O’Neill subsequently admitted he would ideally have kept the midfielder until Celtic’s Champions League qualification campaign was completed.

The Celtic boss had also publicly called for the addition of a box-to-box midfielder with “real physicality” following Engels’ departure.

That replacement had still not arrived by the time Celtic walked out in Linz.