2025-12-12 14:33:40

Joe Hart has said Celtic’s European decline “breaks [his] heart” after watching his former club lose 3-0 at home to Roma in the Europa League.

The result, Wilfried Nancy’s first European match as manager, deepened frustrations among supporters after a turbulent season marked by Brendan Rodgers’ exit and widening anger at the board.

Hart – who played for Celtic from 2021 to 2024 – delivered a scathing assessment, warning that the atmosphere around the club reflects deeper issues off the pitch.

Speaking to TNT Sports, the 38-year-old former goalkeeper said: “It breaks my heart because I know how special these nights were … but the atmosphere isn’t there, the players aren’t playing on the edge of their abilities.”

Hart linked the flat mood inside Celtic Park to problems within the club’s hierarchy following Rodgers’ departure, which came after disagreements over spending and long-term strategy.

Nancy, who arrived from Columbus Crew on December 3, has inherited a fractured squad and a fanbase disillusioned by a perceived lack of ambition.

Celtic trail Hearts domestically and have struggled to compete in Europe, with Hart arguing that unity has eroded since the upheaval at the top.

He said: “The club have got to address this. It feels like a soap opera … They’ve just not addressed the problems. The gap has widened.

“This is such a special club, but it’s only special when it’s united. It doesn’t have to be like this. It comes right from the top.”

In the game on Thursday (11.12.25), Roma capitalised immediately with Liam Scales turning the ball into his own net after six minutes.

Evan Ferguson, on loan from Brighton, struck twice before half time, ending his goal drought and silencing rumours that he might cut short his spell.

Celtic’s brief lifeline came when Arne Engels won a penalty, but the midfielder smashed it against the post to leave Nancy’s side 3-0 down at half-time.

Former Celtic defender Johan Mjallby criticised the team’s fragility at both ends of the pitch.

He said: “It’s a nightmare start, you live and die by what you do in each box. The first goal is way, way too easy.”

Stiliyan Petrov was even more damning, arguing that Celtic’s players looked lost under the new regime.

He said: “Everything with Celtic is disconnected. It seems like the players have lost what their roles and responsibilities are.”

Visit Bang Premier (main website)