The commentary from Sky Sports analysts was brutally frank when they evaluated Martin O'Neill’s Celtic side following their second loss to Rangers within an eight‑day span. The defeat came on top of a disappointing showing against Ferencvaros in the Europa League, leaving the Hoops entering the international break with only a slender two‑point lead at the summit of the Scottish Premiership. Rangers, meanwhile, demonstrated that they are genuine title contenders by securing a 1‑0 win at Parkhead.
Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon believes the timing of the break could not be more appropriate for the squad to "reset" its approach. While O'Neill concurs with his predecessor’s assessment, he cautioned against labeling the winless stretch as a "disaster." "It was a tough game. I don't think there's very much between the teams," the 74‑year‑old manager said. "We should have created more.
We had a lot of possession. It has been a tough week. The history of the club proves it will fight back from these things. 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." Lennon, who enjoyed considerable success as both a player and a manager in Old Firm clashes, was unreserved in his criticism after watching Rangers dominate at Celtic Park. "Rangers were the far superior team, not just in physical attributes and running power, but football," he observed. "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." The former midfielder added, "All the best players were in a blue shirt today. 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. I know a lot of them may be away playing for their countries, but there needs to be a total reset because the last three performances in the space of a week have been very, very poor.
Celtic have got big problems. They were smashed by Rangers and that's a concern." Chris Sutton, who shared the dressing room with O'Neill at Celtic, echoed the sentiment. "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. I can't actually remember a Celtic team getting such a doing at Celtic Park from a Rangers team, which happened today.
It looked like Celtic were making it up as they went along. Rangers were better in every department.
It was men against boys, it was the exact same as last week." Even Rangers’ own former player‑turned‑analyst Kris Boyd highlighted the seriousness of Celtic’s situation. "To come and dominate a Celtic team as much as what they did, it should have been more convincing than what it was," he said.
"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.
Right now, Celtic are a team that's in big trouble." The combination of a narrow league defeat, a sub‑par European outing and the mounting pressure from a resurgent Rangers side has left Celtic in a precarious position. The club’s storied history is filled with comebacks, but the current set of results suggests that a fundamental reassessment is required. Fans and pundits alike are calling for a tactical overhaul, a possible reshuffle of the starting eleven, and a renewed focus on mental resilience.
Looking ahead, the international break offers a natural pause for the squad to recover physically and mentally. Players returning from national duty will bring fresh perspectives, and the coaching staff will have a window to analyse match footage, identify recurring mistakes, and implement targeted training sessions.
The challenge for O'Neill will be to translate this period of reflection into concrete improvements on the pitch. If Celtic can harness the lessons from these setbacks, re‑energise their attacking rhythm, and tighten defensive lapses, they may still salvage the season. However, the consensus among experts is clear: without a decisive reset and a collective commitment to raise standards, the club risks slipping further behind a Rangers side that appears to be hitting its stride at the perfect moment. The next few weeks will be pivotal in determining whether Celtic can restore its dominance or continue to flounder in a campaign that now feels increasingly uncertain.