Celtic face mega Stuttgart inquiry as Brendan Rodgers declared right after 'step backwards' while protests go global

The 4-1 first leg drubbing leaves the Hoops on the brink of exiting the Europa League

It was a night for forget for Celtic on and off the pitch as Stuttgart smashed the Scottish champions on home turf.

Martin O'Neill won't look back on his 1000th game in the dugout fondly with his celebrations in the Europa League almost instantly derailed by a fan protest. And while boss raged about the stunt after the full-time whistle, there is plenty more to dissect from the 4-1 loss.

Kasper Schmeichel struggled once again as Celtic struggled to get to grips with the Bundesliga giants. It leaves the Hoops on the brink of a Europa League exit - just a year on from their back and forth battle with Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

It's a result that has got everyone talking. Here is what the pundits have said about the showdown.

Alan Brazil

Speaking on talkSPORT, the Celtic diehard said: "The result did not surprise me, but the old tennis balls, come on guys. I will be honest with you, I didn't fancy Celtic.

"I think the midfield is the problem. I think we are weak in there. I am not looking forward to Rangers vs Celtic, they have big strong boys in there and I think they will brush Celtic aside. I will say it again, before the game, after the game, yeah (to protests). During the game, shut up."

Charlie Mulgrew

Asked about dropped Kasper Schmeichel on Premier Sports, he said: "It's Martin O'Neill and the staff that see him every day at training, so he [Viljami Sinisalo] must not be doing enough.

"The games he has come in he has done OK, there have been no huge errors, but he has not doing enough to stamp that place in front of Kasper Schmeichel.

"When you make that decision, it ripples through the dressing room because he is a big character in there. When you make it, you need to make sure you are making the right one."

Stiliyan Petrov

Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: "You know, the pressure from the fans on the board towards the players has been massive in the last couple of months.

“You play in one of the big European games, the manager’s motivating you. That week you’re training, you’re preparing, then all of a sudden the adrenaline’s up there, when you’re trying to get the game going, it stops for three minutes. It kills the atmosphere. The fans are expecting a dynamic start. You want to see Celtic flourishing, putting in a performance. Then all of a sudden, everything stands still.

“Even Martin O’Neill, you can see in his face, ‘what is happening?’. This is a big problem for the players as well. They’ve been under so much pressure. Then all of a sudden, they haven’t found that intensity, that adrenaline, to just kick on. They just stood still.

"If you don't have the fans, the club is becoming an ordinary club. I'll tell you that. The Celtic fans are special, they can protest, but it seems like the club is falling apart at the moment."

Neil Lennon

Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: "That is not a Martin O'Neill team, or a Martin O'Neill performance. Probably the most disappointed person in the stadium will be the manager. I cannot believe the lack of passion and desire that Celtic showed tonight. It was far too easy for Stuttgart. Sometimes the players have to get the fans going, and that was apparent tonight. They never did."

Charlie Davies

Speaking to CBS Golazo about the protests, he said: "This is a squad that got rid of Nicolas Kuhn, who is now at Como, this is a squad that has got rid of multiple players that lead them. They did really well in the Champions League last season, took Bayern Munich to the final minutes.

"This is not that team anymore. I looked at this tie going in and just thought 'Stuttgart are flatly better'. The talent level, there is a disparity. And that is one think no coach can mask. Celtic have taken a significant step backwards year over year, and Stuttgart showed that."

Chris Wittingham

Speaking to CBS Golazo, he said: "Recruitment and investment - Brendan Rodgers fell out with the board because he had bigger plans for Celtic. He knew he had to take in a lot of new players and move on some of the players that were already there, that was a disparity.

"Wilfried Nancy comes in and that was more of a tactical input and they went completely the wrong way. Martin O'Neill said he is going to get the best of what he has, and he did, but there is only so much you can do at this level."

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