Danny Murphy plays down ‘big statement’ about Celtic players after Champions League exit

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The Celtic players and management have returned from their gruelling and painful trip to Kazakhstan.

There isn’t much time to rest because it’s the small matter of the Glasgow derby on Sunday at Ibrox, and the chance for Celtic to maintain their perfect start to the new season.

One thing is for certain: the Celtic Park faithful are hurting following the Kairat Almaty defeat and the Champions League exit for the 2025/26 season.

But what about the players themselves? Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy offered an interesting perspective from their point of view.

• READ MORE: Callum McGregor tells Celtic players about ‘external noise’ after Champions League farce in Almaty

Danny Murphy doesn’t think Champions League exit is a ‘stain’ on Celtic players’ careers

Make no bones about it, this is a low for Celtic, and a performance of an abject quality from a team that showed so much progression in the Champions League last season.

Murphy was asked by talkSPORT host Jim White if this is a ‘stain’ on the players’ careers, but he played it down by stating, ‘I doubt they all do’, but he does think they will ‘definitely be hurting.’

Jim White asks: “How much do players care, Danny? This morning, do Schmeichel, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney, Nygren, McGregor, Hatate, Forrest, Maeda and Yang.

“Do they look upon (at the Kairat defeat) as a stain on their careers?”

Murphy responded: “I doubt they all do, no. That’s a big statement. I think they will definitely be hurting because they have missed out on an opportunity to play against great teams, great atmospheres and great stadiums.

“The Champions League is the ultimate to play in, so they have let themselves down more than anybody else.”

Celtic players should take ‘more responsibility’ than Brendan Rodgers

Everyone has been taking verbal hits for the defeat, the board, Brendan Rodgers, and the players, but Murphy thinks the majority of the responsibility lies at the door of those going out on the pitch.

At the end of the day, given the gulf in quality between the two squads, these Celtic players shouldn’t have been struggling as much as they did or required penalties to try and win the two-legged tie.

“The mad thing with this one is that it has happened twice,” said Murphy. “Normally, you get a warning and you make sure you are ready for the next one.

“I think the players have got more responsibility for this than Brendan. Yes, (it’s the players who should be looking at themselves). The manager can only say so much. You go over the white line, and you have to read the game. You have to create the intensity and find a way.”