No Excuses Perform or Get Out!” Luke McCowan Warns Celtic Teammates to Maintain Standards No Matter Who Takes Over After O’Neill.

“No Excuses Perform or Get Out!” Luke McCowan Warns Celtic Teammates to Maintain Standards No Matter Who Takes Over After O’Neill.

Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan has issued a powerful warning to his teammates, insisting that the Hoops’ standards must remain high regardless of who takes over the managerial role after Martin O’Neill’s interim spell while also revealing that poor player attitudes were partly to blame for Brendan Rodgers’ departure.

McCowan’s rallying message comes as Celtic continue their resurgence under O’Neill, who returned to the dugout to steady the club during a period of uncertainty. The Hoops’ emphatic 4-0 victory over Kilmarnock their second successive four-goal win ensured they entered the international break seven points behind leaders Hearts, with a game in hand and growing belief inside Parkhead.

O’Neill’s impact has been immediate. The veteran manager, who led Celtic through one of their most successful eras in the early 2000s, has restored discipline, identity, and confidence to a squad that looked fractured only a few weeks ago.

But while the 73-year-old’s presence has brought stability, McCowan made it clear that the responsibility for performance lies squarely with the players  now and in the future.

“I know Cal (Callum McGregor) has said it before  the people who can affect games, it’s the players,” said McCowan.

“All of us know that it’s us who are on the pitch, regardless of who’s in charge. We’ve got to put in good performances every week. That’s our responsibility.”

The 27-year-old, who joined the club earlier this year, also spoke candidly about the circumstances surrounding Brendan Rodgers’ exit, admitting that certain members of the squad allowed their attitude to slip.

“It’s no secret that some of the players’ attitudes weren’t right,” McCowan admitted.

“In football, if you don’t have the right mentality, things fall apart quickly and I think that was part of what forced the manager out in the end.

We’ve talked about it as a group and we know we can’t let that happen again. No matter who later becomes manager after the gaffer (O’Neill), the mentality has to be right. The standards have to come from us.”

Since O’Neill’s arrival, those standards appear to have been restored. The Irishman’s familiar mix of motivation and authority has reinvigorated the squad, with Celtic showing greater aggression, focus, and cohesion in recent performances.

“It’s Martin O’Neill at the end of the day,” McCowan added.

“He’s got that aura that belief and he brings a real sense of what it means to play for this club. His team talks before matches just lift everyone. He makes you want to go out and fight for the badge.

He believes in every player, and when a manager like that believes in you, it gives you so much confidence.”

With Celtic showing renewed energy and unity, attention now turns to what happens next. Major shareholder Dermot Desmond is reportedly assessing several long-term options including Kjetil Knutsen (Bodo/Glimt), Kieran McKenna (Ipswich Town), Wilfried Nancy (Columbus Crew), and Robbie Keane (Ferencvaros) though all remain under contract with their current clubs.

That reality could see O’Neill asked to remain in charge until at least the League Cup Final against St Mirren on December 14, a proposal McCowan said the players would fully support.

“We’ve got to control what we can control,” he said.

“That’s training well, sticking together, and making sure we perform. The rest will take care of itself.”

Celtic’s next run of fixtures after the international break will provide a stern test of that mindset, starting with an away trip to Aberdeen before a potentially decisive home clash against Hearts.

But for McCowan, the message couldn’t be clearer: whether it’s O’Neill, or whoever comes next, Celtic’s mentality must never falter again.

“The attitude, the work rate, and the pride in the shirt have to be there every single game,” he concluded.

“That’s what this club demands. No excuses perform or get out.”