Celtic rule Scotland but keep coming up short in Europe, and another frustrating Europa League night has sharpened the questions.
Celtic's European story is starting to read like a broken record. The Scottish champions had another frustrating night on the continent in the Europa League, and the gap between their domestic dominance and their continental standing looks wider than ever.
At home, Celtic are used to controlling games, pinning opponents back and winning with authority. In Europe, that script keeps getting torn up. Against sides with more pace, sharper game management and tougher edges, the Bhoys have too often looked a level short, and the criticism that they are flat-track bullies is getting louder.
The frustration is about more than one result. Celtic have the history, the stadium and the supporters to make Europe a proper stage for them. Instead, the fear is that they are drifting toward irrelevance in competitions where they once expected to cause damage, and that the Scottish game's financial and competitive limits are only making it harder.
The pressure now falls on the manager and the squad to prove this is a bump and not a trend. Winning the league again will not settle the debate. Celtic need a convincing European performance, one that shows they can compete with elite opposition and not just beat teams they are expected to beat.
