Like most fans, I was hopeful but not overly confident about a win against Hearts. There was no evidence to suggest things had changed. The win against Motherwell didn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know. The Celtic team lacked cohesion, belief and an identity, but what they didn’t lack was individually talented players capable of overwhelming less well-resourced SPFL opposition. We already knew that we were flat track bullies.

Those like Martin O’Neill, seeking to take comfort in an improved second-half performance against Benfica in a game that was over at half-time, seemed to be ignoring the obvious. Benfica were simply seeing the game out, and they had bigger fish to fry.

Unfortunately, Celtic’s status in Europe is so significantly diminished that they could be confident of a second-half training exercise, and they saw the game out comfortably, despite Celtic being better than they were in an embarrassing first half. It was a very low bar.

On a personal level, I was utterly disgusted by the Lisbon capitulation.

City of Lions. City of legends. City of Losers.

In this anniversary year, when the Lions have been relentlessly exploited for merchandising opportunities, to be reduced to irrelevance on the pitch (which is the only place honouring their memories really matters) was humiliating and extremely upsetting. I appreciate that most people will not have taken that as personally as I did, but that’s how it feels to see this board release a tsunami of Lions merch and simultaneously degrade the team to European insignificance.

The important lesson learned that night was who should start up front, with both Osmand and Hassan showing well off the bench. Clearly, it wasn’t felt that Hearts merited a more defensive midfield, and Nyrgren returned to resume scoring for fun.

It’s almost inexplicable that Osmand has not been deployed as a winger until this point. It was one of the first things I commented on a year ago when we first saw him play. He has pace to burn, a shedload of confidence, and the kind of fearlessness that gets you a reputation for scoring in big games.

It’s amazing how often the traits of a player determine whether he becomes a fan favourite, and I’ve yet to read anything disparaging about Osmand, which is miraculous in this social media age. If Jesus himself were to make his long-awaited comeback, you could be sure there would be online comments on his failings as a keeper, given his holy hands.

Osmand’s style of play, his attitude, his personality and his effectiveness have sparked a perfectly understandable love affair with the fans. He reminds me of Gareth Bale.

I also think about Tounekti when I think of that talented Welsh icon. The man keeping Osmand out of the team was often so criminally bad that he should have needed bail.

There were magnificent individual contributions in what was an enormously enjoyable win. It seems like a long time since we’ve felt that way after a swashbuckling performance.

It was also interesting, and long overdue, that the captain was replaced at the hour mark. Without checking, that may well be his first non-injury related substitution since he was a toddler!

After three truly abysmal European performances so far this season, can the Magnificent 7 be a catalyst to bring us Euro victory and rebuild some severely damaged pride? In reality, it’s a must-win against Celta Vigo, who are hardly the European elite, but they are a much higher calibre of opponent than Hearts.

Between the board’s actions and some very unfortunate phrasing from the manager, an awful lot of fans are apathetic about our Euro involvement. If the board don’t care, why should I? It’s a statement you’ll have heard or read many times already this season. I agree entirely.

However, although this board is unworthy of our support, it wasn’t the board striking fear into last season’s runners-up on Sunday.

Is this the moment where everything falls into place? A catalyst for a dramatic directional change and a seismic shift in fan attitudes? Is it possible we may once more fall in love with the football and not just the team?

Might these players raise themselves up, so that they may be proudly associated with the Lions on the pitch, not just in the shops?

Beautiful, fast, powerful, skilful and ultimately devastating football. There’s a name for that style of play, and we have enshrined it.

The Celtic Way.