The reaction from Sky Sports' panel was scathing after Martin O'Neill's Celtic side suffered a second defeat to Rangers within just eight days. The loss was compounded by a recent setback in the Europa League, where Celtic were outclassed by Ferencvaros, leaving the club entering the international break with only a slender two‑point advantage at the top of the Scottish Premiership. Rangers, meanwhile, have signalled that they are genuine title contenders this season, having secured a 1‑0 win at Parkhead that highlighted the gap between the two clubs. Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon, who has overseen many Old Firm triumphs both as a player and a coach, believes the timing of the break could not be more appropriate.
He argues that the squad needs a chance to "reset" and regroup after a turbulent week. O'Neill, who is 74 years old, echoed some of Lennon's sentiments but was careful to avoid labeling the recent results a "disaster." He described the match against Rangers as a difficult encounter and suggested that the two sides were closely matched, despite the final scoreline. "It was a tough game.
I don't think there's very much between the teams," O'Neill said. He went on to acknowledge that Celtic had dominated possession but failed to create enough clear‑cut chances.
"We should have created more. We had a lot of possession," he added, underscoring the frustration of watching the ball circulate without translating into goals. The manager also reflected on the club's historic resilience.
"The history of the club proves it will fight back from these things," O'Neill remarked, emphasizing that setbacks are part of Celtic's long‑standing narrative. He dismissed the notion that the week constituted a catastrophe, instead calling for a period of introspection. "It's concerning.
Is it a disaster? I don't think so. We have to rethink and reset.
It's a time for self‑reflection," he explained. Lennon was far less diplomatic in his assessment.
Watching Rangers dominate at Celtic Park, he described the visitors as "far superior" not only in physicality and stamina but also in overall footballing quality. "They played all the football.
I thought Celtic were a lot better than they have been in the first half, without being brilliant. But second half, totally disjointed, totally outplayed," Lennon said, highlighting a dramatic collapse after the break. He pointed out that the best players on the field were wearing the blue shirts of Rangers that day and warned that Celtic have a lot of work ahead. "Celtic have a lot to ponder and a lot to work out.
They've got an international break, which is probably coming at a good time for them," Lennon suggested, noting that many Celtic players will be away on international duty, which could both disrupt and refresh the squad. Lennon stressed the urgency of a complete reset, given what he described as "very, very poor" performances across three games in a single week. He warned that the club faces "big problems" after being "smashed" by their rivals, a sentiment echoed by former Celtic teammate Chris Sutton.
Sutton added, "Knowing Martin, he'll be greatly concerned. I don't like to disagree with him but it wasn't a close game. There was a massive gulf between the teams." Sutton also recalled that he could not remember a Celtic side being so thoroughly outplayed at Celtic Park by Rangers.
He said the team appeared to be improvising on the pitch, lacking cohesion and structure. "Rangers were better in every department. It was men against boys, it was the exact same as last week," he observed, drawing a parallel to the earlier defeat.
Rangers' own former player and Sky Sports analyst Kris Boyd praised his current club's performance, using it as a benchmark to highlight Celtic's growing issues. He argued that a team of Rangers' calibre should have been able to dominate Celtic even more convincingly. "To come and dominate a Celtic team as much as what they did, it should have been more convincing than what it was," Boyd said, implying that Celtic's defensive frailties were exposed. Boyd also criticized the tactical adjustments made by O'Neill at halftime, noting that the substitutions had little impact on the game's outcome.
"Celtic are lucky to get out of here 1-0. You look at the changes that Martin made at the start of the game, the subs that came on made zero impact as well," he commented. He concluded with a stark assessment: "Right now, Celtic are a team that's in big trouble." The combination of a disappointing domestic loss, a sub‑par European showing, and a series of underwhelming performances has placed Celtic at a crossroads. The upcoming international break offers a natural pause for the squad to recover physically, address tactical shortcomings, and rebuild confidence.
Whether O'Neill can implement the necessary changes and restore Celtic's competitive edge remains to be seen, but the consensus among pundits and former players is clear: a comprehensive reset is essential if the club hopes to reclaim its dominant position in Scottish football.