The commentary from Sky Sports' panel was scathing as they dissected Martin O'Neill's Celtic side following a second loss to Rangers within an eight‑day span. The defeat at Parkhead, a narrow 1‑0 result, came on the back of an earlier setback in the Europa League against Ferencvaros, leaving the Hoops perched just two points clear at the summit of the Scottish Premiership. Rangers, meanwhile, have signalled that they are serious contenders this season, delivering a performance that left Celtic looking vulnerable.
Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon, who has overseen numerous Old Firm triumphs both as a player and a coach, believes the upcoming international break arrives at an opportune moment for a much‑needed "reset". While O'Neill concurs that a period of reflection is essential, he stopped short of labeling the recent run of results as a catastrophe. "It was a tough game. I don't think there's very much between the teams," the 74‑year‑old manager said, noting that Celtic had dominated possession but failed to translate that into clear-cut chances.
"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," O'Neill added. Lennon was far less forgiving.
Watching Rangers run riot 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," he observed.
Lennon stressed that the loss exposed deep‑seated issues that need urgent attention, especially with three poor performances crammed into a single week. "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," he said. Former teammate Chris Sutton echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the severity of the defeat. "Celtic have got big problems.
They were smashed by Rangers and that's a concern," Sutton remarked. He added that the margin of loss was stark: "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." Even former Rangers striker Kris Boyd, now a pundit for Sky Sports, highlighted the growing concerns for the champions.
"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. Boyd pointed out the lack of impact from O'Neill's tactical changes and substitutions: "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 broader context of these results cannot be ignored. Celtic entered the international break with a fragile lead, and the loss to Rangers not only narrowed the points gap but also dented morale. The Europa League defeat to Ferencvaros compounded the pressure, raising questions about the squad's depth and ability to compete on multiple fronts. O'Neill's side has struggled to find a consistent identity; while they can dominate possession, they often lack the cutting edge in the final third, a problem that was starkly evident against Rangers.
Looking ahead, the international break offers a dual‑edged sword. On one hand, it provides a pause for injured players to recover and for the coaching staff to reassess tactics.
On the other, it risks losing momentum if key players are called up for national duty, potentially disrupting any attempts at a swift reset. The challenge for O'Neill will be to harness the break to address both the tactical shortcomings and the psychological blow inflicted by the defeats.
In summary, Celtic find themselves at a crossroads. The criticism from former players and pundits underscores a pressing need for strategic adjustments, a more decisive attacking approach, and perhaps a reshuffle of the squad to inject fresh energy.
Whether the team can regroup during the international hiatus and emerge stronger remains to be seen, but the consensus among experts is clear: a comprehensive reset is not just advisable—it is essential for Celtic to reclaim their dominance in Scottish football.