Champions League: Celtic bundled out after double deflections
Gary Caldwell said Celtic only have themselves to blame after their European campaign ended with a humiliating defeat. The visitors had an unlikely chance of a place in the competition's last 16 when they took a second-half lead through Barry Robson and were assured of a place in the Uefa Cup had they won.
But Caca levelled with a drive that deflected in off Stephen McManus before Caldwell put through his own net three minutes from full-time. Condemned to finish bottom of Group E, Celtic have now managed just one draw in their last 18 European away games.
"Having got in a position to win the game and thrown it away like that, [it was] very disappointing," said Caldwell. "I think we did enough to win the game but football's not like that. You've got to score goals, you've got to do more than that.
"We didn't see the game off when it mattered and we didn't take the chances when it mattered either."
Caldwell added: "I think we should be better than Aalborg. I think we've done enough at certain times but you have to be better than that away from home in Europe. We've been in the last 16 for the last two years. We know how good it is. We've paid the price for some sloppy performances."
Celtic's manager Gordon Strachan was convinced his side were about to record their first ever Champions League away win when they took the lead.
"At 1-0 I thought, 'Tonight's the night - we're going to get this away victory.' I couldn't see any threat at all. And then a deflection and an own-goal - the game's crazy," he said.
"I just walked past Morten Olsen, the Danish national coach, and he said 'The game can be terrible' - and it is terrible for us. I just hope it's a bad dream, to come here and have so many players playing well."
Having watched his side surrender a draw against Villarreal and a win against Manchester United after the concession of late goals, Strachan admitted his players had contributed to their own downfall. "[We do not have] the ability to stop goals going in the back of the net, simple as that," he said. PA