CELTIC entered their Europa League clash with Braga hoping to steady the ship both on and off the pitch. With tensions high among supporters and questions swirling around the club’s leadership, the night was viewed as a potential turning point. Brendan Rodgers had spoken optimistically about a renewed dialogue with fans after a planned protest was paused. Yet under the lights at Celtic Park, the team’s performance told a different story — one that deepened existing frustrations and left more doubt than direction.
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Celtic’s 2–0 home loss to Braga in the UEFA Europa League has only deepened the growing frustration around Parkhead. Goals from Ricardo Horta and Gabri Martinez handed the Portuguese side victory and left Celtic’s European hopes hanging by a thread. The match was another flat showing in a season that has already seen discontent bubble to the surface among fans.
The defeat came on the same night that supporters had planned a silent protest at Celtic Park. That demonstration was paused following assurances from the club’s board, who agreed to meet with the Celtic Trust to discuss concerns about direction, investment, and overall ambition. Brendan Rodgers had expressed hope that this was the start of rebuilding the strained relationship between the fans and the hierarchy.
However, the result on the pitch offered little in the way of reassurance. Celtic managed just three shots on target and struggled to impose themselves in the final third. The disallowed goal from Kelechi Iheanacho, ruled out for handball after a VAR check, only added to the frustration. The lack of urgency and poor defending, particularly in the second half, left home supporters visibly disillusioned.
Rodgers, speaking after the match, acknowledged the disappointment. He insisted that his players had moments of control but failed to capitalise. Yet for many fans, the performance lacked intensity and fight — attributes expected on a European night at Celtic Park. The response to falling behind was subdued, with Braga looking more organised and confident as the match progressed.
The result also extended a worrying trend. Celtic have now gone three games without a win and have failed to score in five of their twelve matches this season. That equals the number of goalless outings they recorded in the entire previous campaign. Such statistics will only fuel the concerns of a support that already questions the club’s recruitment strategy and the direction under Rodgers since his return.
In recent weeks, chants, banners, and growing unrest have made headlines. Much of the criticism has been aimed not only at the manager but at the board, with fans calling for greater investment and ambition. The temporary cancellation of the protest on Thursday evening was a gesture of good faith, yet performances like this one risk undoing any progress made off the pitch.
There is also a sense that Rodgers must win back sections of the fanbase who remain unconvinced by the board. While his previous spell brought domestic success, some still feel betrayed by his departure to Leicester City mid-season in 2019. Only results — especially in Europe — will change minds. So far, those results have been underwhelming.
The road ahead doesn’t get easier. Celtic’s next Europa League fixtures are must-wins, and domestic pressure is mounting too. Rodgers remains confident that dialogue with fans and results on the pitch can align, but that alignment feels distant at present.
If Celtic are to move forward, both performances and leadership must improve. The support remains passionate, but patience is wearing thin. The Braga defeat didn’t just cost points — it cost belief.
