| UEFA Cup | Matches: 2014 – 2015 |
Trivia
- Dropped down after defeat to Maribor in the qualifiers for the Champions League.
- Celtic dropped down to the Europa League after failing dismally in the Champions League qualifiers.
- We've surrendered a lead in 5 of our 6 away European games this season
- Celtic qualify out of the Europa Group stages for the first time.
- Celtic are the first Scottish club to progress from the group stage of the Europa League since it was restructured from the UEFA Cup in 2008.
- Still not a single away win still ever in the Europa Group stages.
- No John Guidetti in the group stages (our top scorer in the domestic league) as he signed too late for Celtic.
- The draw was seen as relatively easier than ones we'd had in years gone by.
- Yet again we were unable to win any of our games away from home.
- Ronny Deila’s first Uefa cup group stage matches.
- Celtic qualify out of the Europa League Group stages for the first time. Still to top the group stages in this or the Champions League.
- Knock out stage v Inter Milan, historically notable as Celtic defeated them in 1967 European Cup final.
- Celtic lose 4-3 in aggregate v Inter Milan and out of Europe.
2014
| SEP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 18th |
FC Salzburg |
2 |
2 |
Celtic |
Report |
Pictures |
KO: 20:05, Group Stage, Match 1 |
| OCT |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2nd |
Celtic |
1 |
0 |
Dinamo Zagreb |
Report |
Pictures |
KO: 20:05, Group Stage, Match 2 |
| 23rd |
Celtic |
2 |
1 |
FC Astra |
Report |
Pictures |
KO: 20:00, Group Stage Match 3 |
| NOV |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 6th |
FC Astra |
1 |
1 |
Celtic |
Report |
Pictures |
KO: 18:00, Group Stage Match 4 |
| 27th |
Celtic |
1 |
3 |
FC Salzburg |
Report |
Pictures |
KO: 20:00, Group Stage Match 5 |
| DEC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 11th |
Dinamo Zagreb |
4 |
3 |
Celtic |
Report |
Pictures |
KO: 18:00 Group Stage Last match. |
| Position | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| 1 | FC Red Bull Salzburg | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 16 |
| 2 | Celtic | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 8 |
| 3 | Astra Giurgiu | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 15 | -3 | 6 |
| 4 | Dinamo Zagreb | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 15 | -9 | 4 |
KO Stages
| FEB | |||||||
| 19th |
Celtic |
3 |
3 |
Inter Milan | Report | Pictures | KO: 20:00, First Leg |
| 26th |
Inter Milan |
1 |
0 |
Celtic |
Report | Pictures | KO: 18:00; Second Leg; Agg 3-4 loss. |
Review
After the unceremonious dumping into this competition when Celtic threw away the advantage against Maribor to play in the Champions League, the manager's stock was low and confidence was evaporating. The manager's tactics were widely criticised, and being honest there were few actually that wereinterested in the Europa League Group stages to come.
However, Neil Lennon had previously turned his squad around in the Europa League, and Ronnie had to now emulate him. If anything, Ronnie was a lucky man again with what appeared an easy enough looking group. Little was worrying, and if anything there was expectations that Celtic could make it out the group stage in this competition for the first time, plus get an away win.
As with much of the reign of Deila to date, there was quite a lot to be concerned about. However the form in the group stages was a respite for the under pressure manager.
A very good start with two wins and a draw helped put Celtic in the driving seat despite the performances not necessarily being anything of great note. The second half of matches was a fall back down to earth. In total, ten goals were scored and eleven conceded with Celtic only just qualifying. None of the teams were stellar.
The big disappointment was undeniably squandering the match v Astra away to close up early qualification and then being blown away by Salzburg who were quite frankly nothing special. In total, we had squeezed through despite doing little of note. Yet once more, we couldn't win away!
On a positive note, credit to Ronny Deila as this was the first time that Celtic had got through the group stages in the Uefa cup, something that his last two predecessors failed at.
The poor attendances at Parkhead reflected the general apathy towards the UEFA Cup group stages, yet there was little to criticise the support for. Costwas high and the economy was still weak. The attendances were still high compared to many other clubs abroad in the competition. The Uefa Cup group stages didn't excite many people anywhere.
The knock out stages saw Celtic face Inter Milan. This pairing was a bit of a dream for the Celtic PR men, resulting in the marketing centring on our seminal European Cup win in 1967. Sadly those long far away days were so far away looking at the state of the teams, both far off their days at the top table.
Anyhow, the odds were still marked against Celtic, and after going two down in the opening leg at home in under ten minutes it looked all over. An incredible fight back saw Celtic pull it back with this game showing light and shade. In the final moments, Guidetti scored a late equaliser to grab a deserved draw in a 3-3 draw.
A fabulous result, but the ball was still in Inter Milan's court, and so it proved with a comfortable two nil victory over Celtic in the second leg.
Out of Europe but regained some pride with these performances. Overall a mixed bag and a very steep learning curve for Deila.