NafisaThe pressure around Martin O’Neill has intensified considerably after Celtic followed their 3-0 Old Firm defeat to Rangers with another damaging result, this time losing 3-1 to Ferencváros in their Europa League opener.
The Celtic manager had insisted before the game that his side would respond to the Ibrox humiliation, but Thursday night instead produced another performance that left supporters deeply frustrated.
Celtic did manage to get back on level terms through Mika Baur shortly before half-time, but Ferencváros restored their lead in first-half stoppage time before Daniel Arzani struck again just two minutes after the restart.
With two defeats in four days, the mood around Parkhead has changed dramatically.
And some Celtic supporters are now openly questioning whether O’Neill should remain in charge.
Celtic urged to sack Martin O’Neill
O’Neill remains a hugely respected figure among Celtic supporters, but that status has not prevented criticism following the latest collapse.
Independent Celtic outlet Everything Celtic has now called for the manager to leave, arguing that his reputation should not shield him from scrutiny over the team’s performances.
“Martin O’Neill is a Celtic legend, that won’t change. However, he should have had his fairytale end of the season and left,” the outlet wrote on X.
“There’s no purpose to our play, the team looks tactically devoid & the feel-good factor has been smashed to smithereens. The players are an embarrassment.”
One supporter agreed with the sentiment, adding:
“100%. I can’t bring myself to ever say a bad word about O’Neill, but he really needs to take it upon himself and walk before it damages his reputation further.”
Those comments reflect a growing section of the support questioning whether the emotional goodwill surrounding O’Neill’s return is now being outweighed by concerns about performances and results.
The criticism comes despite Celtic having made a perfect start to their Premiership campaign. O’Neill’s side had won their opening league matches, but consecutive defeats to Rangers and Ferencváros have dramatically changed the atmosphere around the club.
Celtic’s defensive problems exposed again
Thursday’s defeat followed a familiar pattern.
Ferencváros took the lead in the 20th minute through Bamidele Yusuf before Baur restored parity for Celtic in the 44th minute.
The home side had little time to enjoy that equaliser.
Kristoffer Zachariassen put the visitors back in front in first-half stoppage time, before Arzani struck in the 47th minute to make it 3-1.
The result left Celtic supporters increasingly frustrated as another major fixture slipped away from O’Neill’s team.
The defensive performance has consequently become another major talking point, particularly after Celtic conceded three times against Rangers only four days earlier.
O’Neill had already admitted before the Ferencváros match that his side needed to respond to the Ibrox defeat, saying Celtic had disappointed themselves and their supporters. He also acknowledged that questions would naturally be asked about his tactics and team selection after such a heavy loss.
Instead, Celtic have now suffered another defeat before they have even had the opportunity to put the Rangers result right.
Supporters turn on the players too
The anger has not been directed exclusively at O’Neill.
Several Celtic players have also come under heavy criticism on social media following another poor performance.
Callum McGregor, in particular, was singled out by one supporter despite wearing the captain’s armband, while Cameron Carter-Vickers and Kieran Tierney were also criticised.
Those comments are, of course, individual fan opinions rather than an established consensus among the Celtic support.
But the broader frustration is clear.
After the Rangers defeat, McGregor himself admitted Celtic had looked like “a team of individuals” rather than a cohesive side, while O’Neill subsequently challenged his players to rediscover the work rate, grit and determination traditionally associated with successful Celtic teams.
The Ferencváros defeat has only intensified those questions.
Rangers rematch now looms
Perhaps the worst possible fixture for Celtic to have next is already waiting.
Rangers return to Celtic Park on Sunday, only seven days after their 3-0 victory at Ibrox.
O’Neill therefore has virtually no time to repair the damage.
Celtic must now somehow recover from consecutive defeats and produce a completely different performance against the same Rangers side that dominated them in the previous meeting.
The stakes have changed dramatically in just four days.
Before the Rangers match, O’Neill was talking about responding to a setback.
Now, after another defeat, the Celtic manager is facing much louder questions about his position.
O’Neill himself said before Thursday’s match that Celtic would “get ourselves right” and that the club had two big games before the international break in which to respond.
The first opportunity has gone.
Sunday’s Old Firm rematch now carries considerably more weight than anyone at Celtic would have wanted.
Nafisa
