In the open air of the Raiffeisen Arena, with bedlam all around, there was nowhere to hide for Celtic or Martin O’Neill.
The Scottish champions had endured one of the darkest nights in their European history.
After going out to Kairat Almaty on penalties last year at this stage of the Champions League play-offs, that is saying something.
Four goals up on aggregate against LASK, O’Neill’s Celtic somehow conspired to implode in a second half with little sign of a response on the way to a 5-4 aggregate loss following extra time.
There was no hiding place, and the Celtic manager was frank when put in the spotlight at full-time.
“I’m responsible for this one,” he said.
“Without a doubt. Naturally it took me a long time to get over the Uefa Cup final in 2003 but this was majorly disappointing.
“In the context of things, one was a final which it would have been terrific to win, this was a qualifying game which we should have been able to get through.
“We know that we are a million miles from the finished article. That’s absolutely true. I think we thought that anyway.”
