NafisaMartin O’Neill has taken aim at sections of the Celtic support and the club’s wider critics, accusing some of attempting to create unnecessary divisions within the squad amid growing scrutiny of the team’s performances.
The Celtic manager was speaking after his side’s frustrating 2-2 draw with Dundee United, a result that once again raised questions about the team’s tactical organisation and consistency.
However, while O’Neill recognises that Celtic still have issues to address, he was clearly unimpressed with suggestions that the criticism surrounding the club points towards deeper problems behind the scenes.
The veteran manager believes supporters need to remain patient as his squad continues to settle, particularly given the circumstances surrounding several summer arrivals.
His comments also appeared to be a direct response to those portraying the situation as one of growing unrest, with O’Neill insisting that Celtic are doing considerably better than some of their critics are suggesting.
O’Neill tells Celtic critics to stop creating divisions
The manager’s strongest response came when he was asked about the growing scrutiny surrounding Celtic and the suggestion that there could be divisions within the camp.
O’Neill made it clear that he does not believe the situation should be portrayed in that manner, pointing towards the team’s domestic position as evidence that there is no need for unnecessary alarm.
He said: “I come in here [to the press conference] every single week and I’m most of the time pretty buoyed by things.
“Don’t try and throw a lot of divides in. At the end of the day, we’re doing fine.”
It was a pointed message from the Celtic boss, who appeared to suggest that some of the commentary surrounding the club is doing little more than creating additional pressure.
O’Neill has also urged supporters to recognise that building a settled team takes time, especially when several players arrive late in the transfer window and miss important parts of pre-season preparation.
He explained that a number of his players did not complete pre-season with the squad, while others only joined after the campaign had already begun.
That has inevitably affected how quickly the team can develop an understanding, particularly in an attacking setup that has required several players to operate in unfamiliar positions.
“A lot of lads here didn’t even do pre-season with us. A number of players came in quite late on, so it will take time for us,” O’Neill explained.
“So we need to hang in there, and at this minute I think we’re hanging in.”
Celtic manager insists domestic campaign remains on track
O’Neill also pointed towards Celtic’s position in the Scottish Premiership as another reason why he believes the criticism needs to be kept in perspective.
Despite the recent disappointment against Dundee United, Celtic remain four points clear at the top of the table.
The manager was careful not to suggest that the advantage was significant at this stage of the campaign, but he remains satisfied with the team’s domestic progress.
“I think we’ve done fine, we’re leading the league with a four-point gap at this minute, which is nothing at all at this stage of the season,” he said.
O’Neill also reminded supporters that Celtic have recovered from similar situations in previous campaigns, pointing out that they managed to retrieve leads on a couple of occasions last season.
However, he admitted that European football remains an area where the club needs to produce better results.
“We’ll try and get a result or two in European football which would be nice, but domestically we’ve been fine.”
The manager’s comments suggest that he is not oblivious to the concerns surrounding Celtic, but he wants the current situation judged with the wider circumstances in mind.
O’Neill turns attention to difficult Falkirk test
Celtic now have an opportunity to respond on the pitch when they travel to Falkirk.
With Rangers facing Aberdeen in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals, a victory for O’Neill’s side would move them seven points clear of their Old Firm rivals.
However, the Celtic manager is not expecting an easy afternoon.
Falkirk have improved considerably after what O’Neill described as a difficult start to the season, and he recognises that his side will face a serious challenge.
“Falkirk had a bit of a stodgy start, but they are flying now, so we know it’ll be a difficult game for us.”
For O’Neill, the immediate priority is getting Celtic back to winning ways while giving his squad more time to develop the understanding and consistency that have been missing in recent performances.
His message to the critics is clear: he accepts that improvements are needed, but he does not believe the situation justifies attempts to create divisions around the club.
Nafisa
