O'Neill Expresses Surprise and Disappointment Over Schmeichel's Career-Threatening Surgery

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has voiced his surprise and disappointment upon learning of Kasper Schmeichel's recent announcement that his career might be over due to impending double shoulder surgery. This news comes after O'Neill had previously stated that the goalkeeper was nearing a return to full fitness. Schmeichel's announcement, made during CBS's Champions League coverage, revealed that he faces up to a year of rehabilitation. O'Neill acknowledged being aware of Schmeichel's ongoing shoulder issues, which stemmed from an injury sustained while playing for Denmark a year ago. However, he expressed that he was not prepared for the severity of the situation. The Celtic manager noted that Schmeichel had been receiving injections to manage the pain and participate in games, but the true extent of the injury was not realized until recently. O'Neill also mentioned that he would have preferred to hear the news directly from Schmeichel rather than through secondary sources. The goalkeeper's decision to announce his potential career-ending surgery has raised questions about his performances while playing injured, including a notable own goal in a Scottish Cup final loss. O'Neill defended Schmeichel, stating that many players, including himself, have played through injuries in the past. The manager reflected on Schmeichel's contributions during his initial spell with Celtic, highlighting the goalkeeper's crucial saves in several games. Despite knowing about the shoulder issue, O'Neill did not realize its severity until the recent announcement. Schmeichel's condition worsened after a bad reaction to an injection following Celtic's draw with Rangers. When asked if Schmeichel's injured play had negatively impacted Celtic, O'Neill pointed to a specific loss to Stuttgart but noted that the team's overall results have been satisfactory with both Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo in the lineup. On a more positive note, Callum McGregor is expected to recover from his calf injury in time for the upcoming match against Dundee United on Sunday.