# Jason Cundy asks why Celtic 'even bother' in Europe after Benfica humbling

**By:** Anthony Evans  
**Published:** 2026-10-16T09:12:13Z  
**Source:** [Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jason-cundy-asks-celtic-why-37778704)

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Jason Cundy asks Celtic 'why even bother' in Europe as shock jock tells Scottish clubs they can't 'live off history'
The talkSPORT host wasn't holding back after Hoops were thumped 4-1 by Benfica in the Europa League

Jason Cundy speaking on talkSPORT

Wind-up merchant Jason Cundy says that Celtic 'disgraced UK football' after taking a pasting off Benfica in the Europa League.
And the talkSPORT shock jock then hit back at claims that Hoops and Rangers are still bigger than most clubs south of the border.
Martin O'Neill's side have been left sitting third from bottom in the Europa League standings following a 4-1 defeat in Lisbon having been beaten 3-1 by Ferencvaros at Parkhead last month.
Celtic crashed out of the Champions League play-off with a sensational collapse in their 5-4 aggregate loss to LASK in August and now face further ties against Celta Vigo, Besiktas, Torrense and Omonoia in their quest to try and reach the Europa League knockout phase.
Earlier in the season, Rangers failed to qualify for a European competition completely after getting knocked out of the Europa League by Jagiellonia Białystok and then by Jablonec in the Conference League.
Hearts were on the end of rousing defeats to Sturm Graz and Benfica in the top two competitions but did rally to edge out Rapid Vienna on penalty kicks to reach the Conference League. Wouter Vrancken's team were denied three points in their league phase opener afer conceding a late equaliser to FC Nordsjælland at Tynecatle on Thursday night.
Cundy has not been shy in sticking the boot in on Scottish team's struggles in Europe in recent seasons and took the opportunity to poke fun at Celtic and our other teams during his Sports Bar show on talkSPORT on Thursday night.
Speaking alongside Charlie Austin, a giggling Cundy said: "Celtic, I don't know why they bother.

Celtic players look dejected at the final whistle in Lisbon(Image: Zed Jameson/the Press Association)

"You know when you were in the playground (in school) and you need 11 players. Scottish clubs are always the last to be picked when you need another body.
"And again, they have disgraced UK football. What's the point? They were smashed by Benfica tonight and it's the same old, same old story."
Cundy and Austin where then joined live on the radio by Si Ferry, Paul Slane and Andy Halliday from the Open Goal podcast and the former Chelsea defender admonished the trio for claiming that Celtic and Rangers are bigger than most clubs south of the border.
He stated: "Do you know what, in a thousand years time, there will be some idiot like you sitting there saying exactly the same thing, and nothing will have changed.
"You can't live off history, you make history. You can 't keep doing this."
Asked how many clubs in England are bigger than the Old Firm, Cundy exclaimed: "Every one of them! Because you lot live in a bubble. You live in a bubble in Glasgow.
"Everyone in Newcastle thinks they are a massive football club, they are not. You are the Newcastle of the North. You guys are big in Glasgow, that's it."