Chris Sutton has claimed that Ange Postecoglou is due an apology from chief executive Dominic McKay for the mess he’s inherited.
Appointed Celtic manager on June 10 after a failed three-month pursuit of Eddie Howe, the Australian was always facing a race against time to get a team together for the Champions League qualifiers.
An accident waiting to happen in the eyes of the vast majority of supporters, the aggregate defeat to Midtjylland came on the night that Postecoglou was only able to field one new signing in Liel Abada ahead of a youthful, makeshift defence.
Chris Sutton (left) believes Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou (right) is due an apology from chief executive Dominic McKay
Absolving Postecoglou of all blame for Celtic’s fourth successive loss in the Champions League qualifiers, Parkhead legend Sutton laid the blame squarely at the door set of the club’s hierarchy.
‘Dominic McKay should be phoning Ange Postecoglou tonight to apologise for the mess he’s left him in,’ he said.
‘It is too late but that’s what he should be doing.
‘The fact of the matter is that even when Wim Jansen came in in 1997, he still had (Henrik) Larsson, (Marc) Rieper, (Craig) Burley, (Paul) Lambert.
‘You speak about (Odssone) Edouard but he wants away and he’s having to play him.
Sutton laid the blame for Celtic’s exit from the Champions League at McKay (pictured) and the rest of the board’s door
‘Look at the situation with the centre halves and the goalkeeper. We could go on and on.
‘This is a dreadful hand he’s been dealt. It’s not on the manager.
‘There does need to be an element of patience but I think two years is pushing it.
‘He’ll need to turn to around in a year.’
Once a regular in the group stages, Celtic have now been eliminated in the qualifiers in successive years by AEK Athens, Cluj, Ferencvaros and now the Danes.
‘It’s embarrassing for Celtic to again go out of the Champions League at this stage,’ added Sutton.
‘I think we all know the reasons for it. The manager has been dealt an awful hand.
‘I said it last week – that it would be a miracle of Celtic got through to the group stages.
‘Look at his bench tonight – what he had to work with, what he had to throw on.
‘There are areas which have needed addressing for a long time at the cub.
‘We’re speaking about the goalkeeper situation before the game.
‘Every Celtic fan knows that Celtic need a goalkeeper who’s up to it.
The Scottish side were beaten 2-1 by FC Midtjylland in the second leg of their qualifier
‘(Vasilis) Barkas isn’t up to it. (Scott) Bain isn’t up to it. (Conor) Hazard isn’t up to it.
‘Why haven’t Celtic acted? Why on earth was Kristoffer Ajer sold now?
‘Carl Starfelt is coming in this week. That’s brilliant. He hasn’t been able to play in a game in which he was needed.
‘Dane Murray, who actually performed very well tonight, was thrown in at the deep end.
‘Nir Bitton was once again playing a Champions League qualifier. It’s embarrassing and it’s mismanagement from the top.
‘This isn’t on the manager. This is on the board.’
Sutton’s former team-mate John Hartson echoed that view – saying that it had been apparent that wholesale recruitment was always going to be needed this summer.
‘They need a supply of new players desperately,’ said the Welshman.
‘We’ve know they need a goalkeeper. That goes without saying.
‘They need a right-back, a left-back and that’s just the start.’
Postecoglou is still having to play Odsonne Edouard (right) despite the striker wanting to leave
Against an opponent that lacking any real class, Hartson still felt Celtic had more than enough about them to progress.
‘We could have gone two or three up but rued missed chances,’ he added.
‘In extra time I didn’t think we offered anything. We looked out on our feet.
‘I don’t really want to point fingers at the players. It’s difficult. They need help.
‘Callum McGregor was outstanding again. What a goal that was – top drawer.
‘James Forrest had to score but it’s the way they go up the other end and score within seconds.
‘Greg Taylor just let’s his man run off him. He’s got to be side on and hasn’t got a clue what’s behind him. He’s got to go with him, do better and react quicker.’