Martin O’Neill Commits to Celtic as Title Race Remains Priority
Martin O’Neill has confirmed he intends to remain in charge of Celtic and pursue the league title after using the international break to assess the club’s difficult recent run.
The 74-year-old had said he would speak with the board and consider his future after Celtic lost three times in the space of a week. Their Europa League defeat by Ferencvaros came between two losses to Rangers, placing renewed scrutiny on the manager before the break.
O’Neill ready to continue
- Celtic’s damaging week began with a defeat against Rangers, followed by the European loss to Ferencvaros.
- A second Rangers defeat completed three consecutive losses and led O’Neill to reflect on his position.
- During the international interval, O’Neill took time to review the team’s performances and his own decisions.
- He has now declared himself ready to lead the side into the remainder of the campaign.
O’Neill said he was “extremely prepared” to continue, insisting that a poor sequence of results should not be treated as a crisis beyond recovery.
“We had a difficult week,” he said. “It can happen. You can lose to your arch-rivals, you can lose a European game. It is certainly not the end of the world, as it seemed to be described. But I’m ready to go.”
The Celtic manager said the pause had not required a lengthy decision. His focus remains on winning the league, the objective set at the start of the season.
“I did think I would take a little bit of time and it didn’t take me that much time to think about it,” O’Neill said. “I want to lead the club, I want to try and win the league, which is what we set out to do, and just as determined now as ever before.
“It was a time of reflection for a moment or two and, yes, some things that you think about. But overall, I’m back, I’m raring to go and the team’s ready.”
Manager calls for honest assessment
O’Neill said the narrow nature of recent defeats had been central to his review. He highlighted the potential impact an equaliser against Rangers could have had on the course of that match.
He believes difficult spells demand an honest examination from the manager before anyone else.
“What you try and do is analyse the things that you’ve done or perhaps the things that you haven’t done,” he said. “Throughout my managerial time, I’ve been exactly that. I think I look to myself first of all.
“Maybe a wee bit different as a player, because I think I used to blame every other player for my own bad performance. But, as a manager, you’ve got to look at yourself. And if you feel as if something has dropped away, of course you have to analyse it.”
Motherwell next as injuries ease
Celtic resume domestic competition away to Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday, with O’Neill hoping for improved options within his squad.
- Jota has completed 45 minutes in a friendly behind closed doors at the training ground.
- Alistair Johnston has returned to training after a hamstring problem.
- Callum Osmand is also back on the pitch following his hamstring injury.
O’Neill will look to turn those returning players into momentum when Celtic begin their response to the three-match losing run in Lanarkshire.
