Celtic's Season Start: Wins, Worries, and the LASK Challenge

Celtic’s season is only one game old, but the mood around the club already feels like a tug of war between relief and anxiety.

A narrow, functional win over Dundee has banked three early Premiership points. It has not, however, silenced the doubts swirling around a squad that now has a Champions League play-off with LASK looming into view.

Win on the board, worries in the margins

Supporters can see both sides of the picture. The table says Celtic are up and running. The eyes say something else.

“Being optimistic, we can be happy that we have opened the season with a win and a head start on our two closest challengers,” says Alistair. Then comes the sting. “Reinforcements are essential, especially with the Champions League qualifier on the horizon. The weaknesses in the wide areas and at left-back were clear to see.”

That is the thread that runs through so many reactions. Satisfaction with the result. Concern with almost everything underneath it.

John M doesn’t dress it up. Dundee was a grind. “It wasn't pretty but Celtic did what Celtic do – they carved out the win despite a poor performance by their standards.” Rust, new signings still finding their feet, the usual opening-night caveats are all on the table, but he wants more urgency, more punch in transition, and replacements of genuine quality for those who have departed.

The points are in the bank. The questions haven’t gone away.

Europe on the horizon, doubts in the detail

If Monday night was supposed to offer reassurance ahead of LASK, for some it did the opposite.

George looks at the lack of transfer activity and sees a warning sign, not a blip. “Given the lack of signings, preparation time with new players, and key players leaving, this Champions League play-off will be a very difficult tie to progress from,” he says. For him, the equation is stark: Celtic must build a cushion at home or risk being picked off. “We will need to win by couple of goals at home to have any chance of qualifying. On basis of Monday night's awful performance against Dundee that does not look at all likely.”

That word – “awful” – will jar with those who prefer to bank the win and move on, but it captures a real fear. Celtic have been here before: early European qualifiers, a squad not quite ready, a tie that arrives too soon.

Kevin leans into that history. “We need ties like this,” he insists. Celtic’s early-season European record, he points out, is “not spectacular,” often because they “play the unknown and are not ready.” This time, he sees a possible turning point. Two new forwards, a bit more threat, and a board that might finally be jolted into action.

“Maybe this will wake the board up and push through a few more signings beforehand,” he says. And then, despite the caveats, the faith of a supporter kicks in: “I fancy us to go through though.”

Belief, but with a hard edge.

Must-win mentality or early warning?

What nobody is doing is underestimating LASK. There is no talk of easing through. No assumption that Celtic’s name alone carries them into the group stage.

“It's certainly a tough draw but one that will hopefully keep the minds on the game,” says John. There is no room, in his view, for treating this as anything other than decisive. “We cannot go into this one with anything other than a must-win attitude.”

He does, at least, see one clear positive. Firepower. With two forwards who have already proved they can score in Europe, he feels more secure about Celtic’s cutting edge than in some recent campaigns. If the supply lines sharpen up, the goals should follow.

And that is where this Celtic side stands right now: caught between a defence that still looks short, wide areas that feel exposed, and a forward line that might just be good enough to drag them through while the rest of the squad catches up.

The league table shows three points. The calendar shows LASK on the way. The support, as ever, sees the fault lines as clearly as the possibilities. The only question now is whether the club moves as quickly as the fixtures.