Caldwell: Euro exit not down to bad luck
Gordon Strachan’s side deservedly took the lead in the 53rd minute at the Energi Nord Arena through a Barry Robson header and, after six seasons of travel with only one point to show for their group stage efforts, it looked like their away-day hoodoo would finally end.
However, the Scottish champions managed to find a new way to lose in Europe, albeit it in the cruellest of circumstances. The Danish side equalised in the 73rd minute when Caca’s 25-yard drive deflected off skipper Stephen McManus before looping over Artur Boruc.
At that stage, a place in the UEFA Cup was still possible. But with three minutes remaining Caldwell put through his own goal to send the Bhoys crashing out of Europe altogether.
Celtic players and management looked stunned as they boarded the bus for the airport, with Robson and others bemoaning their bad luck.
However, Caldwell admitted there is more to Celtic’s failure than misfortune and hinted at some fundamental problems.
“You can’t keep saying it was bad luck,” he said.
“Ultimately, we weren’t good enough to hold on to the lead that we managed to get or maybe even get the second goal that would have killed the game off.
“But we can’t say we were unlucky – that’s too easy. We have to look at ourselves.
“We were probably the better team on the night but unfortunately in football, if you make mistakes it can cost you.
“It’s a massive disappointment to have been in the position we were in and then throw it all away.
“We dominated the game and I felt that if anyone was going to score (again) it was going to be us.
“The first goal was freak deflection and that changed the course of the game.
“But we should still be good enough to keep it at 1-1 and still be in Europe, but ultimately we couldn’t do it.’’
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