Martin O'Neill is facing intense scrutiny over Celtic's recent form, with club ambassador Tom Boyd stating the manager needs to deliver another turnaround. The 74-year-old is considering his future after a damaging week that included back-to-back losses to Rangers and a home defeat to Ferencvaros.
Boyd, a former Scotland full-back capped 72 times, said he has no reason to think O'Neill will leave. "I don’t have any reason to think he won’t," Boyd said. "He says he’s had a wee look at the situation." He added that the status quo is not working and a solution is needed quickly.
Celtic's recent results show three consecutive defeats. They lost 1-0 at home to Rangers last Sunday, fell 3-1 to Ferencvaros three days earlier, and were beaten 3-0 by Rangers the previous week. Despite this, the team remains top of the Premiership with 18 points from seven games, holding a two-point lead.
Impact of LASK defeat
Boyd pointed to the 5-1 away defeat to LASK in the Champions League as a key moment that has affected the squad. He said that heavy loss has scarred some players and their performances since have been below standard. There is a lot of work to do to understand why it happened and to fix it on the training field, he added.
O'Neill switched to a back three formation recently, but Boyd expressed concern about integrating new systems. The ambassador noted that limited player availability due to international duty and a congested fixture list complicates cohesion. "He’s got to, because the status quo at this moment in time - the last few weeks - is not working," Boyd said regarding the need for a managerial masterclass.
Squad challenges and scrutiny
Several Celtic players are away on national team duty for the next fortnight, which Boyd said makes building understanding difficult. He highlighted summer signing Mika Baur as a standout performer so far, while suggesting fellow new arrival Kasper Hogh may be better suited to a different system and needs time. Boyd stated that both new signings and existing players need to be under scrutiny for improvement.
Injury news is mixed, with Alistair Johnston potentially returning but Jota currently sidelined. The team's top scorer this season is C. Durán with three goals. Motherwell currently sit ninth in the table.
With multiple midweek Europa League fixtures approaching, the schedule remains demanding. Boyd said it is reasonable to criticise current performances and results, and the team must find answers fast. The immediate focus is on halting the losing streak and building from a position of strength at the top of the league.
Read the full report at Daily Record Football
