Martin O'Neill's second spell in charge of Celtic is facing its sternest examination yet after a chastening home defeat to Ferencvaros compounded an already miserable week for the Scottish champions.
Just days after being outclassed by Rangers at Ibrox, Celtic conceded another three goals as their European campaign continued to unravel. The performance carried echoes of the club's grim continental nights of years past, when heavy defeats to the likes of Cluj, Copenhagen, Sparta Prague and Legia Warsaw exposed similar frailties in structure and belief.
Celtic actually started brightly against the Hungarian side but were undone by a soft opening goal that set the tone for a night of defensive lapses and attacking sterility. Despite dominating possession in the first half - 62.5 percent by the interval - they trailed 2-1, with the visitors exploiting gaps left by a midfield that offered little control or protection. A third goal, scored by former Celtic player Daniel Arzani, arrived through a swift counter-attack that caught the hosts badly exposed, with a Celtic full-back caught upfield and unable to recover in time. Arzani's finish, curled precisely into the top corner, only added to the sense of humiliation.
The warning signs had already been flashing before this latest setback. Celtic had shipped five goals against LASK earlier in their European run and were thoroughly beaten in the Old Firm derby at the weekend. Supporters, once accustomed to the swagger and intensity of the club's best sides, are now witnessing a team stripped of energy, precision and conviction.
Among the individual struggles, summer signing Camilo Duran - who arrived with plenty of promise - toucbed the ball just eight times in the opening half while playing centrally, a sign of how isolated Celtic's attack has become. Striker Kasper Hogh, signed for a reported £11m after a prolific spell with Bodo Glimt that included goals against elite European opposition such as Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan, has struggled to adapt to life at Celtic Park, scoring in just one of his eight appearances for the club so far.
Captain Callum McGregor, long regarded as the heartbeat of the team, also appeared to lack his usual influence in midfield. Speaking afterwards, McGregor admitted the group's confidence has taken a hit, saying the team is "a little bit broken at the moment."
O'Neill, addressing the media after the match, spoke candidly about the psychological toll of back-to-back heavy defeats, describing the frustration and the difficulty of absorbing such setbacks. He vowed the side would regroup ahead of Sunday's derby rematch against Rangers at Celtic Park, but his demeanor suggested a manager still searching for concrete solutions rather than simply reassurance.
O'Neill has a proven track record of steadying Celtic during turbulent periods, both during his trophy-laden first spell and since returning to steer the club through difficulties last season. His sides have historically been built on resilience and fighting spirit, traits that appear to be missing at present.
With Rangers sensing an opportunity to inflict further damage on a struggling rival, Sunday's meeting at Celtic Park now takes on even greater significance. For O'Neill, the challenge is not only to arrest a worrying dip in form but to rediscover the identity and resolve that once made his teams so difficult to beat.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.