Celtic manager Martin O'Neill admitted there was nowhere to hide after his team suffered a collapse against LASK in the Champions League play-offs. Holding a four-goal aggregate lead, the Scottish champions imploded in the second half at the Raiffeisen Arena in Austria and went out 5-4 on aggregate following extra time. The defeat was described as one of the darkest European nights in the club's history. The elimination recalled Celtic's exit to Kairat Almaty on penalties at the same stage last year. That defeat in Kazakhstan began the end of Brendan Rodgers' second spell at Celtic Park. O'Neill was not in charge for that match, but he helped steady Celtic last season after Rodgers' exit and again during the Wilfried Nancy saga, guiding the club to another league title and the Scottish Cup. "Without a doubt. Naturally it took me a long time to get over the UEFA Cup final in 2003 but this was majorly disappointing," O'Neill said. He said a final would have been terrific to win, but that this qualifying tie was one Celtic should have been able to negotiate. The manager conceded that the side remains far from the finished article and said the club had already recognised that reality. Missing the Champions League could have serious financial and reputational consequences for Celtic as the transfer window reaches its closing days. O'Neill said qualification is major in every respect, including finances and prestige. He accepted that some players may have wanted to join on the basis of Champions League participation, but said that would no longer be the case. He also placed responsibility on himself to lift the team after the result. Celtic captain Callum McGregor gave a blunt assessment, telling Amazon Prime that the players got what they deserved. He said Celtic were passive throughout the night and appeared scared to go and win the game. Although Celtic went 1-0 up, McGregor said the goal did not settle the side. He added that Celtic had not been especially good in the first leg either, saying they scored at good times and got away with it. McGregor apologised to the supporters and the club, insisting that the players must accept their share of the blame rather than seek excuses elsewhere. He said questions about whether the squad is ready will follow a defeat of that scale, and that Celtic's response now matters. In his view, playing for Celtic demands that players recover and show a reaction after a setback. Former Celtic captain Scott Brown told BBC Radio Scotland that the early lead now felt a long time ago. He said LASK outran Celtic in parts of the match, while praising the Austrian side's two forwards as strong, solid and willing runners. Brown said LASK deserved to progress, though he expressed sympathy for Celtic's players because he had experienced similar situations. Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon told Amazon Prime that Celtic looked exhausted and fragile in their individual duels. He said LASK battered them physically and on the football side, and suggested the margin could have been greater. Lennon added that a club of Celtic's stature should have been able to protect such a substantial aggregate advantage under pressure. Celtic's absence from this season's Champions League will remove a familiar club from matches followed by supporters in Soomaaliya and across the diaspora. The lost income may affect the club's ability to attract players, while Somali viewers will be watching closely to see whether Celtic can recover in domestic competition and its remaining European campaign.