Celtic's Martin O'Neill Vows to Rebound After Ibrox Defeat
Martin O'Neill has vowed Celtic will “get ourselves right” as they attempt to shake off the bruises from Sunday’s humbling at Ibrox and relaunch their season in Europe.
The Scottish champions were heavily criticised after a meek 3-0 Scottish League Cup defeat to bitter rivals Rangers, a result that has darkened the mood around Parkhead and sharpened the scrutiny on O’Neill’s second spell in charge.
On Thursday, Celtic open their Europa League campaign at home to Hungarian side Ferencvaros, a fixture that suddenly carries more than just group-stage significance. It is a test of character.
“Every game that Celtic lose, there’s a crisis”
O’Neill did not try to sugar-coat the fallout when he faced the media on Wednesday.
“Every game that Celtic lose, there's a crisis, and of course even bigger if you lose to Rangers, so we've done enough talking about it,” he said.
“Our players are disappointed with the performance, we could have done better, I think we accept that, and we just apply ourselves now again for the league fixtures.”
The defeat at Ibrox was not just painful. It was timid. Celtic never laid a glove on their oldest rivals, and the manner of the loss has stung a support used to seeing their team impose itself in Old Firm battles.
O’Neill knows it. So do his players.
“We were disappointed ourselves, we disappointed the fans and now we just have to rise to the occasion,” he admitted.
Two games to change the mood
The schedule offers no time for self-pity. Ferencvaros arrive on Thursday, then Rangers again on Sunday in the Scottish Premiership at a packed Parkhead. Two games. Two chances to flip the narrative before the break.
“We've got two matches in which to do so before the break. Two big games for us, Ferencvaros will not be easy, but we've done it before, we'll get ourselves right,” O’Neill said.
The European tie might, on paper, look less emotionally charged than a derby rematch, but Celtic’s manager treated it as a key staging post. A strong performance under the lights could steady legs and clear heads before Rangers walk back through the front door at the weekend.
Old Firm baptism for new faces
Part of Sunday’s story was inexperience. Five of O’Neill’s starting XI were tasting an Old Firm match for the first time. They found out quickly what it means.
“I think it was an eye opener to some of the newer lads,” the 74-year-old said. “We've got to find out about players, about whether they're capable of dealing with these games. Hopefully, over the course of time, they will be.”
That learning curve now meets a hard deadline. Celtic cannot afford another flat display, not in Europe, and certainly not in a second straight derby.
The crisis talk will not go away on its own. Celtic have to play their way out of it.
