Celtic Park was not a happy place on Thursday night.
A win was expected from Brendan Rodgers’ side against a Braga side struggling with their form. But in the end, it was a night on which a lot of things went wrong.
Perhaps what the game will mostly be remembered for is the almighty error by the officials which led to Kelechi Iheanacho’s equaliser being wrongfully ruled out.
But it would be wrong to say that this was the sole reason why Celtic lost the match. They severely lacked intensity both on and off the ball, and drifted in and out of the game.
The Parkhead crowd was also under the microscope – and one Hoops hero has weighed in on the impact that the matchday atmosphere was having.
Joe Hart on the atmosphere at Celtic vs Braga
Celtic made a decent start to the game, but Braga were allowed to disrupt their flow, beginning with a long-range opener from Ricardo Horta.
Things looked upward for the Hoops when Iheanacho looked to have scored a perfectly fine equaliser, but the team’s response to the erroneous decision wasn’t there.
WATCH: Reaction to Celtic 0-2 Braga…
For Joe Hart, commentating on TNT Sports’ broadcast of the game, the players’ performance was partially a symptom of the peculiar atmosphere in the stadium.
He said: “You can just sense it with the way that Celtic are playing. The flat atmosphere is very unlike Celtic Park.
“But as a player, sometimes you can’t rely on that. It’s not about how many fans are in the stadium. You’ve got to step up, wear the jersey with pride and say ‘give me the ball.’
“You’re paid as a professional to emotionally zone out. And these guys are good enough to do that, the best ones do it.
“But you just feel that kind of unrest sometimes when it’s not going so well. The moans and groans, you can see them affecting certain players. Not everyone’s built for that. Not everyone can play through that pain.”
It’s true that not everyone is built to play at Celtic Park – some players certainly looked a shadow of their best selves on Thursday.
What now for Celtic in the Europa League?
The draw leaves Celtic on one point after two matchdays. Six remain between now and the end of January.
If the Hoops are to qualify for the knockout play-off round, the general points total required is 12. Anything less and they are relying on other results.
In losing to Braga, the Celts have let a winnable game slip. They can’t afford too many more if they are to make the most of their first participation in the competition in four years.
Up next for the Hoops is a home match against Sturm Graz, who defeated Russell Martin’s Rangers 2-1 on Thursday. There is an international break between now and then.
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