Martin O’Neill has admitted he will take time to reflect on his future as Celtic manager after Rangers inflicted another painful defeat on the Hoops at Celtic Park.
The 74-year-old Northern Irishman made the revelation following Celtic’s 1-0 Scottish Premiership defeat to Rangers on Sunday, a result that completed a difficult week for the Parkhead club and intensified questions surrounding the manager’s position.
Ryan Naderi’s first-half goal was enough to give Derek McInnes’ Rangers another victory over their city rivals, just seven days after the Ibrox side had eliminated Celtic from the Premier Sports Cup with a 3-0 win.
The latest defeat was Celtic’s third consecutive loss in eight days, with the other coming against Ferencváros in the Europa League. Celtic lost that match 3-1 at Parkhead on Thursday, meaning O’Neill’s team entered the international break having endured a particularly difficult run of results.
The Rangers defeat was also Celtic’s first Scottish Premiership loss of the season. Despite the setback, O’Neill’s side remain two points clear of Rangers at the top of the league table. However, the margin that had previously provided some comfort has been reduced significantly after Rangers claimed back-to-back victories against their biggest rivals.
There was a tense atmosphere inside Celtic Park as the home supporters watched their team struggle to produce the response many had expected after the previous two defeats.
Rangers eventually found the breakthrough in the 33rd minute when Naderi reacted quickest to a rebound following an effort from Kim. The goal silenced the Celtic support and gave McInnes’ young Rangers team something to protect.
Celtic attempted to respond, but Rangers remained organised and disciplined. McInnes later argued that his side could have won by a bigger margin, while praising his players for their defensive performance and their ability to handle the pressure of playing at Celtic Park.
The result left O’Neill facing questions that had become increasingly difficult to avoid.
And it was during his post-match press conference that the Celtic boss delivered the verdict that has now become the biggest talking point surrounding the club.
O’Neill confirmed that he would use the international break to reflect on recent performances and speak with the Celtic board about his position.
“I will reflect on the games,” O’Neill said. “I’ll obviously speak to the board. And you never know, they may want to speak to me.”
He added that he intended to take a couple of days away before making a decision.
Asked what would happen if his reflection led him to conclude that he could not improve the team, O’Neill did not offer a definitive commitment to continue.
“By that time, I will promise you, I’ll let you know,” he said.
When pressed further, his response was equally open-ended: “I don’t know. I’ll have a look.”
Those comments have inevitably fuelled speculation about whether O’Neill could decide to walk away from the Celtic job during the international break.
However, there has been no confirmation that he has resigned or that Celtic have decided to remove him. His comments, based on the post-match interviews reported by STV and the Press Association, amount to an admission that he intends to assess the situation before deciding what comes next.
O’Neill also acknowledged that supporters are entitled to express their frustration.
“I think they’re absolutely entitled,” he said when asked about the criticism from the Celtic support.
The veteran manager stressed that he was not immune from criticism and accepted that questions about whether he could turn the situation around were legitimate.
“I’m not immune from criticism. Far from it,” O’Neill said.
He also pointed to Celtic’s position in the league, reminding reporters that his team remains two points clear at the summit despite the difficult week.
“We are, as I said, two points clear, so I have to kind of look at the bigger picture at this minute,” he explained.
O’Neill acknowledged that Celtic are involved in a major title fight with Rangers and Hearts, insisting that there remains a long way to go in the campaign.
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But the immediate concern is the manner in which Celtic have performed in their biggest matches.
The 3-0 defeat at Ibrox was followed by the Europa League loss to Ferencváros and then another Old Firm defeat at Celtic Park. Three defeats in eight days have dramatically changed the mood around the club.
Supporters have also taken to online platforms to express their frustration. In a post-match discussion on Reddit, one Celtic supporter wrote simply: “Bye Martin,” while another posted: “Resignation time, Martin.” Other comments called for changes within the management team.
Another Celtic discussion thread contained criticism of the team’s performances, with one supporter writing that the side looked “so fucking uncoached,” while others questioned the performances of several players.
Elsewhere, another supporter argued that O’Neill walking away while Celtic were still two points clear could preserve the positive aspects of his legacy, while continuing could create further difficulties.
The reactions demonstrate how divided and frustrated parts of the Celtic support have become after the difficult sequence of results.
Importantly, the online comments are individual supporter reactions rather than an official representation of the Celtic fanbase as a whole.
For O’Neill, the international break now provides time away from the immediate pressure of matchday football.
The manager has previously enjoyed considerable success with Celtic, and his return to the club was initially associated with stability following managerial changes. His current permanent spell, however, has entered a period of uncertainty after the club’s latest run of results.
Rangers, meanwhile, have emerged from the two Old Firm meetings with maximum points. McInnes’ side first produced a 3-0 victory at Ibrox before following it up with a 1-0 win at Celtic Park.
That second victory moved Rangers to within two points of Celtic in the Premiership standings, ensuring that the title race remains tightly contested at this early stage of the campaign.
McInnes praised his players after the latest victory, particularly their defensive discipline, while stressing that there are still many points available during the season.
For Celtic, the next few weeks could therefore be significant.
O’Neill has not announced a departure. He has not confirmed that he intends to resign. Instead, he has openly stated that he will reflect, speak to the board and decide what he believes is best for the team and himself.
That uncertainty is now the central storyline surrounding Celtic as the players head into the international break.
The club remains top of the Scottish Premiership, but the gap to Rangers has been cut to two points. Three straight defeats have created pressure, supporters are demanding answers, and O’Neill himself has acknowledged that questions over his future are legitimate.
For now, the Celtic manager’s next move remains unclear.
But after another Old Firm defeat, Martin O’Neill has made one thing clear: his future at Celtic is something he will seriously consider during the international break.
