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'Feels like a soap opera' - Joe Hart says Celtic struggle 'breaks my heart' after defeat against Roma in UEFA Europa League
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Updated 11/12/2025 at 22:32 GMT
Roma secured a 3-0 win over home side Celtic in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday. Former Celtic player Johan Mjallby was deeply unimpressed with how Wilfried Nancy had failed to match the Italians' energetic approach. Another former player, Joe Hart, said that problems were showing up on and off the pitch, and said that the atmosphere was not what he remembered.
Ferguson inflicts further suffering on Celtic with third for Roma in chaotic first half
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Former Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart said that problems at the club start "right at the top" as they fell 3-0 at home to Roma on Thursday in the Europa League.
Wilfried Nancy was in charge of his side for the first time in a UEFA Europa League match, after losing 2-1 at home to league leaders Hearts in his opening game.
Nancy took over at Celtic on December 3, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract after almost three years with Major League Soccer outfit Columbus Crew.
He replaced Martin O’Neill, who was appointed on an interim basis after the dramatic exit of Brendan Rodgers, who had grown frustrated with the lack of spending by the club, which left his side unable to compete against their opponents on the continent and also saw them trail Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.
That has led to a troubled relationship between the fans and the Celtic board, and Hart was deeply disappointed to see how things had developed on and off the pitch.
Hart was damning in his assessment of the club, saying that the atmosphere at the ground was indicative of wider problems at the club, which boiled over after Rodgers’ departure earlier in the season.
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Scales headed own goal hands Roma sixth-minute lead
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Speaking on TNT Sports, Hart said: "It breaks my heart because I know how special these nights were, how special they can be. I lost my fair share of games on European nights, but the intensity was always there, I felt like the goalkeeper had a game, or we had a right good game and ran out of steam after 60, 70 minutes, which is understandable at the top level.
"But the atmosphere isn't there, the players aren't playing on the edge of their abilities, which is what this place has. It brings magic to you, brings energy to you. And it's just not there at the moment."
Hart said that Celtic would have to work to improve the connection between supporters and players, as well as the leadership in the club’s hierarchy.
"They're intelligent people," he continued: "It's an intelligent football club. It's not just about being good at football. You’ve got to represent. The club have got to address this.
"It feels like a soap opera. The setup is so financially stable, so much success, but it's just not playing out. 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."
'A nightmare start' - Mjallby unhappy with Celtic performance
Johan Mjallby decried a "nightmare start" for Celtic as Stiliyan Petrov said the players have "lost what their roles and responsibilities are."
Roma came to Scotland as clear favourites to take the win, and Liam Scales put the ball in his own net on six minutes to give the visitors an early lead.
There were two goals for Evan Ferguson, on loan at the Serie A side after struggling to break through at Brighton & Hove Albion.
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Celtic miss penalty, are booed off after conceding THREE in first-half collapse
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He had been blunt in front of goal for Roma until his appearance on Thursday, and there had been speculation that he would cut his loan spell short in January in order to find minutes and inspiration somewhere else.
The problem was compounded by Arne Engels’ late first-half penalty, which initially gave his side hopes of reducing the deficit. Though he struck his spot-kick well, it crashed against the post and rebounded away from danger, allowing Roma to go into the tunnel 3-0 up at the end of the first half.
Speaking at half-time on TNT Sports, former Celtic player Mjallby was unimpressed by the performance at both ends of the pitch from Nancy’s side.
Mjallby commented on Scales’ goal, and the lack of threat up top, saying: "It’s a nightmare start, you live and die by what you do in each box. [The first goal] is, way, way too easy."
Petrov, another former Celtic player, was more damning of the team as he spoke alongside Mjallby.
He thought that the away side were showing more initiative and aggression in the match, and it left The Bhoys struggling to assert themselves and on the back foot.
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He commented: "It’s all about the Roma aggressive approach that’s really [troubled] Celtic. Everything with Celtic is disconnected. It seems like the players have lost what their roles and responsibilities are. Roma are using that. They’re attacking aggressively, they’re getting into the right areas, and the right players."
He also picked out Ferguson for particular praise for Ireland striker Ferguson, adding: "Evan Ferguson, he’s been outstanding in the first half. Not just the goals, it’s about [how] he’s bringing players into play, he’s running behind."
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