Martin O'Neill is poised to take a hard look at his future at Celtic after the club suffered a 1-0 loss to Rangers at Parkhead. The defeat comes on the heels of a 3-0 League Cup triumph over the same opponents at Ibrox, and a tightly contested Scottish Premiership encounter in which a first‑half goal from Ryan Naderi left Derek McInnes' Rangers just two points shy of the league leaders as the international break approached. Having been appointed permanently for a second spell after serving twice as interim manager last season, O'Neill entered the Rangers game under mounting pressure.

That pressure had already been building after Celtic were beaten 3-1 by Ferencvaros at home on Thursday night, a result that left many supporters questioning the direction of the team. In the wake of the latest setback, the 74‑year‑old manager spoke candidly about the need for personal reflection. "I will genuinely reflect and see," the Northern Irishman said.

"It’s about whether I can still add value to the squad. A manager’s job is to make a difference, and I’ll be looking at that this week." He went on to acknowledge that age can be a factor when results falter.

"Every time something goes wrong, you start to wonder if age is playing a part. In two years I’ll be 110, so perhaps it’s time to start thinking about wrapping things up," O'Neill mused. He promised to review the recent performances, discuss the situation with the board, and possibly take a short break to gain perspective. "I’ll talk to the board, they may want to talk to me.

I’ll try to step away for a few days and see how it feels," he added. When asked what his next move might be if his self‑assessment concluded that he could not improve the team, O'Neill gave a guarded reply: "If I reach that conclusion, I’ll let you know. I don’t know yet, I’ll have to look at it." Addressing the growing negativity among Celtic fans, O'Neill said, "They are absolutely entitled to be critical.

I told you on Friday they have every right to voice their concerns. I’m not immune to criticism – far from it. There’s a legitimate question of whether I can turn this around, whether I can change the whole situation." He reminded everyone that Celtic still sit two points clear at the top of the table, urging a broader view of the season.

"We are still in a big fight with Rangers and Hearts, who are still very much in the mix. The season is long, and this isn’t the first time my tenure has been questioned. I’ll reflect, I’ll see what needs to be done." Former Celtic boss Neil Lennon offered his analysis on Sky Sports, noting O'Neill’s attempts to tweak the team’s shape.

"He changed the formation and made four alterations mid‑week, trying to find a formula that brings fluidity," Lennon said. "Rangers were simply superior – not just physically, but in footballing terms. They executed their game plan perfectly. Celtic looked better in the first half, but not brilliant, and fell apart in the second, completely disjointed and out‑worked." Lennon added that the loss gave Celtic a lot to contemplate, especially with an international break looming.

"Many players will be away on duty, but the squad needs a total reset because the last three performances in a week have been very poor." Sky Sports analyst Chris Sutton echoed the sentiment, expressing concern for O'Neill. "Knowing Martin, he’ll be deeply worried.

I don’t want to disagree with him, but the game wasn’t close – there was a huge gap between the sides. I can’t recall a Celtic team being beaten so comprehensively at Celtic Park by Rangers. It looked like Celtic were improvising, while Rangers were superior in every department." Sutton warned that the defeat highlighted serious issues within the club. "Celtic have big problems.

Being smashed by Rangers is a worrying sign." The fallout from the loss will likely intensify discussions at Celtic Park about the manager’s future. O'Neill’s willingness to step back, evaluate his performance, and engage with the board suggests a period of introspection is imminent. Whether that leads to a renewed contract, a change in approach, or an eventual departure remains to be seen, but the upcoming weeks will be crucial for both the manager and the club as they aim to regain momentum in the title race.