adminCeltic supporters have taken to social media and fan forums to demand that Dane Murray be removed from the starting lineup immediately following his disastrous performance in the 2-1 Europa League defeat to Celta Vigo at Celtic Park.
The 23-year-old centre-back, who was handed a rare European start by Martin O’Neill, produced a display that has left fans furious, with many questioning why he was thrown into such a high-stakes fixture in the first place.
A Night to Forget for Murray
According to post-match statistics, Murray endured a nightmare evening against the Spanish side. The defender made zero tackles across the full 90 minutes, was dribbled past once, and won zero per cent of his ground duels . He also lost possession four times during his 68-touch display at Parkhead .
While Murray did put his body on the line for a handful of important blocks as Celta piled on the pressure, he was repeatedly guilty of dropping too deep and then scrambling to recover . Crucially, it was his man—Javi Rodríguez—who slipped away to head home the equaliser in the 68th minute, sparking the three-minute collapse that cost Celtic the match .
Fans React: “Not Good Enough for Europe”
The frustration among the Celtic faithful was palpable. On fan forums and social media, the consensus was clear: Murray is not ready for this level of competition.
One supporter on BBC Sport’s fan reaction page didn’t hold back, writing: “Waken up, the game has changed, you need all-round athletes, Celtic have no defence at this level” .
Others questioned O’Neill’s decision to start Murray in such a crucial fixture. With Celtic already without a point in the Europa League, throwing a young defender into a must-win game against technically gifted La Liga opposition was always going to be a gamble—and it backfired spectacularly.
The Bigger Picture
Murray wasn’t the only player to struggle. Sam Johnstone, making a surprise start in goal, will feel he should have done better with Rodríguez’s header, while Colby Donovan was exposed repeatedly on the right flank . Haissem Hassan, despite providing the cross for Mika Baur’s opener, was criticised for switching off defensively .
But Murray’s numbers are the most damning. For a centre-back to go an entire match without winning a single ground duel or making a single tackle is a statistic that will haunt him—and one that fans believe should cost him his place.
What’s Next?
Celtic face Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday, and O’Neill is expected to make changes . Whether Murray keeps his place remains to be seen, but the pressure from the stands is mounting.
With Celtic sitting 35th out of 36 teams in the Europa League table and staring at a fourth consecutive European defeat, the manager cannot afford to persist with players who are demonstrably not ready for the step up .
For Murray, the Celta Vigo match may prove to be a harsh but necessary lesson. For Celtic, the lesson is simpler: in Europe, sentiment cannot dictate selection.
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