Martin O’Neill explains decision to bench Haissem Hassan against Rangers

Martin O’Neill has revealed a sleepless night lay behind his decision to leave Haissem Hassan out of Celtic’s starting XI in the 3-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox.

The winger’s absence raised eyebrows before the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final. Hassan had been one of Celtic’s brightest sparks in midweek, tormenting St Johnstone, creating Mika Baur’s winner and seeing a goal of his own chalked off in controversial fashion. On form alone, he looked a certainty to start.

Instead, Sebastian Tounekti got the nod, with Hassan left among the substitutes as Celtic were swept aside in Govan.

Speaking after the game, O’Neill explained that the call was driven by concern for the player’s condition rather than tactics or form.

“Young Hassan had an overnight problem, and he didn't get much sleep in all honesty, so it was just a matter of not starting him because of that. That's the reason, really,” the Celtic manager said, via Scottish Sun.

The issue emerged on the eve of the derby, leaving O’Neill unconvinced the 21-year-old was ready to handle the demands of a high-octane cup tie at Ibrox. In a fixture where every sprint and every decision is magnified, Celtic’s manager felt he could not risk a half-sharp winger.

O’Neill had been pressed on Hassan’s omission before kick-off as well, and hinted then that the nature of the occasion had weighed heavily in his thinking.

“Yeah, I think that he will be on the field of play without doubt,” he replied when asked about the winger’s role.

“I think sometimes maybe just have a little look at the fixture itself, you know, the intensity of all of those particular things.”

The message was clear. In a tie loaded with noise, pressure and consequence, O’Neill wanted players he believed were fully primed from the first whistle.

Hassan eventually watched Celtic unravel from the sidelines as Rangers booked their place in the last four. The bigger question now is how quickly the Frenchman can shake off a disrupted weekend and force his way back into the starting picture, with Celtic needing every spark they can find in the weeks ahead.