O'Neill and the Europa League puzzle: Why Celtic left out Jota and three new signings?

When Martin O'Neill announced the Europa League squad list, many Celtic fans had to do a double take. There was no Jota - the 27-year-old winger still recovering from a cruciate ligament injury sustained in April 2026. There were also no names of the three new signings who arrived at Celtic Park this week: defender van den Berg (19, from PSV) and the duo Mheuka and Emenalo on loan from Chelsea.

My first blog post was not about football, but about the space between Johor's two centre-backs. And today, the biggest space I see is not on the pitch, but in Celtic's registration list itself.

The question before every move is not "who will score", but "why did O'Neill choose this path". The Northern Irish strategist was straightforward when talking about "very tough decisions", while emphasizing that domestic football is "the most important thing" at this moment. This is not a impulsive decision, but a clear tactical signal about what Celtic is prioritizing at this stage of the season.

The context needs to be put on the table: Celtic were eliminated from the Champions League and dropped into the Europa League - Europe's second-tier competition. Under the new format, the Scottish club can change their squad list if they progress from the league stage, meaning from February 2026. This explains why O'Neill accepts the risk of leaving out those who are not ready, instead of burning the integration phase of the new signings.

From a defensive perspective, Jota's absence creates a clear weakness on the right flank. The Portuguese was Celtic's main attacking spearhead. Based on my experience watching matches, a team losing its key creative player usually needs at least 4-6 weeks to find balance again in the final-third build-up. But in return, keeping Callum Osmand in the squad despite his recent injury shows O'Neill prioritizes availability over peak form - a pragmatic, unglamorous choice.

The key point is that O'Neill is building a squad for the whole season, not just for one match. Three new signings arrived this week, with no training time with the team. Throwing them into the Europa League right now is like pushing a non-swimmer into a pool. Instead, Celtic will let them get used to the pace of Scottish football first, then think about Europe. van den Berg with his PSV pedigree, Mheuka and Emenalo from the Chelsea academy - all are raw gems that need time to be polished.

The contrarian view here is that leaving the three new signings out of the Europa League could be good news for them. The expectation pressure will drop significantly. They can debut in a less hostile environment than the European stage. If they perform well domestically, the Europa League door remains open when the February transfer window comes. This is smart expectation management, avoiding burning out the development phase of young players.

Financially, Celtic faces no pressure from FFP or PSR. The deals were structured clearly: a permanent move for van den Berg, loans for Mheuka and Emenalo from Chelsea. No fees were disclosed, but this is a squad-depth investment strategy without sudden wage spikes. Jota, despite his long-term injury, is still seen as a valuable resale asset for the future.

I don't write to praise a decision, but to point out every step that led to it. O'Neill is playing a long game. He accepts sacrificing immediate strength in the Europa League for long-term stability across the whole squad. With the congested Scottish football calendar, having a fresh squad for domestic competitions might matter more than a volatile European campaign.

The real match doesn't start when the referee blows the whistle, but when a defender decides to leave his position. For Celtic, their real match this season may have been decided before the ball rolled - in the meeting room when O'Neill crossed out the names of those not ready. The remaining question: will this patience be rewarded when February comes, and will these new signings have the ability to make a difference when given the chance?