CELTIC legend Lubomir Moravcik insists his old club must rediscover their attacking identity to win back the fans who have deserted Celtic Park in their droves.
Moravcik attended Sunday’s home draw with Ross County - and was given a hero’s reception from the crowd at half-time - before picking up a special recognition award at the club’s Player of the Year event that evening.
He was impressed by triple award winner on the night Leigh Griffiths, who picked up the club’s top scorer, Player of the Year and Player’s Player of the Year awards, but he says the striker needs more help next season.
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The Slovakian admitted that he was struck by how many empty seats there were inside the stadium compared to the days when he graced the turf alongside the likes of Henrik Larsson, and the fans who were in attendance audibly and visibly demonstrated their displeasure with the Celtic board and the performances of their players.
While Moravcik acknowledged that it is now difficult for Celtic to attract top class players to the club, he says it is vital that the new manager coming in to replace Ronny Deila gets his recruitment right in the summer to get Celtic back into the Champions League.
If they can do so, he is sure that the supporters - who still worship him to this day - can be won back over.
He said: “It was the first time I had seen Celtic since Fenerbahce in Istanbul, and a draw was a bad result in the end.
“It was a bit surreal. Without a full crowd, it was a bit different from what you would expect.
“I understand the fans haven’t been too happy with some of the results this season and, of course, the semi-final was a massive disappointment.
“At Celtic, you have to do well in every competition, the fans expect to win everything and that’s why they have a problem and you see the stadium not full.
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“It’s a different time. I left the club 14 years ago and the situation in football in Europe has become complex in the past decade.
“With TV rights, the big leagues and big championships have taken over the rest of Europe. It is difficult now for Celtic to be competitive with the big English clubs.
“The German, Spanish and French leagues too are from big countries with more money available through television, and it’s difficult to attract quality players without the big money.
“Celtic is a big club, but it is a big club in a small country where it is hard to attract the biggest stars, and that is a problem for them.
“Maybe when the manager leaves, though, a new manager can bring a new vision and grasp the opportunity to attract some of the fans back.
“On Sunday, I was impressed with Leigh Griffiths, but I felt bad for him. I saw why he is the best player of the season and the best scorer of the season. He’s very talented, but he needs some players who can come in and help him.
“He has scored a lot of goals and he is a really good player. He can score with his left foot, his right foot and his head, but Celtic have to bring in some other players who can score.”
Moravcik sees qualification for the Champions League group stages as vital.
He puts the malaise around Celtic Park down to the fans being starved of top-class European action rather than the absence of rivals Rangers from the top-flight.
“A lot will depend on that if they are to win the fans back," he said. "It’s so important for Celtic fans to see the best teams in Europe playing at Celtic Park and they have to look for that.
“I hope that Celtic Park can host some of the big Champions League nights again. That should be the priority for Celtic now.
“I hope Celtic win the three points they need to be champions, and then set about preparing for the new season and the Champions League. They have to strengthen, because Rangers are back too.
“It’s not Celtic’s fault that Rangers were out of the league, its Rangers problem – not Celtic’s. If Rangers were not playing in the Premiership because they had problems with money, it has nothing to do with Celtic.
“If Celtic win five titles in a row, it’s not because Rangers are out of the league. Rangers are out of the league because of Rangers.
“I hope to see Celtic back in the Champions League next season, that has to be their target.”
The runners and riders for the soon to be vacant Celtic dugout include the likes of Moravcik’s former teammates Larsson and Neil Lennon, and he has backed either of the ex-Celtic greats to take the club in the right direction should they be appointed.
“It’s always good for the fans to see guys on the bench who have big passion for Celtic,” he added. “The fans would like to see someone there who has been involved in the club in the past."
Meanwhile, club legend Bertie Auld has called for Celtic to appoint a manager who will bring "entertainment and laughter" back to the supporters.
Auld admitted feeling uncomfortable at Parkhead on Sunday as supporters voiced their displeasure towards the board in the wake of their William Hill Scottish Cup defeat by
The European Cup winner, launching the latest search for Scottish Football Hall of Fame inductees, said: "It's very unlike the Celtic supporters to show their feelings like they did on Sunday," he said. "In our day, when you didn't have substitutes, they were our substitutes because they gave you a lift.
"Sunday was one of those days you felt uncomfortable because there was so much strain because of the situation with the manager.
"He brought the title to us last season, but we haven't been entertaining. That's one thing the Celtic supporters are used to. Big Jock (Stein) used to say to us when we were going out the dressing room: 'Entertain. You have the ability or you wouldn't be here.'
"Another thing he said was that the Celtic reserve team today will be the first team tomorrow. We have lost that a little bit. Let's get back to basics.
"We need someone who is going to bring laughter to the terraces. We need someone who can coach and get discipline."
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