Martin O’Neill delivers blunt message to Celtic stars after Ibrox nightmare

Martin O’Neill has revealed the message he delivered to his Celtic players after their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox.

Celtic were comprehensively outplayed in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final and ultimately had little reason to dispute the result. Rangers appeared stronger in the physical battles, while Celtic struggled to impose themselves on the game.

The defeat also raised questions about the tactical approach. Derek McInnes’ decision to add an extra player in midfield caused Celtic significant problems, yet the Hoops failed to find an effective solution. Their lack of a clear response was particularly concerning.

The interval presented O’Neill and his coaching staff with an opportunity to change the course of the contest. However, the second half largely repeated the same pattern, with Rangers continuing to exploit space and Celtic unable to establish control or consistently play through their opponents.

Speaking ahead of Celtic’s Europa League opener against Ferencváros on Thursday, O’Neill explained what he told the squad after the final whistle.

“I said to the players, I’m not so sure whether Rangers beat us or we beat ourselves in that sense,” O’Neill told Celtic TV.

The Celtic boss stressed that hard work and consistency must remain central to the team’s identity, regardless of the opponent or venue.

“You’ve got to put the work in, you’ve got to do it and you’ve got to do it every single week.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s a home game against somebody who’s at the bottom of the league or away at Ibrox. You’ve just really got to put the work in.”

O’Neill pointed to Celtic’s strong finish to last season as an example of the mentality he expects from his players.

“That has defined Celtic teams in the past, putting this work in. That’s what we did at the back end of last season.”

He also recalled how the team responded to a defeat against Dundee United by winning their next seven matches, including victories over Rangers and Hearts.

“Some of those matches, I think we won through sheer desire. So you’ve got to have that.”

For O’Neill, talent alone is not enough if players fail to show the necessary determination and competitive spirit.

“There’s no point in having all the talent in the world if you don’t apply the determination and the will to win. Sometimes that defines players.”

He added that a player’s character can sometimes be judged by how they perform on the pitch, although he acknowledged that such assessments are not always conclusive.

Celtic’s defeat clearly exposed shortcomings in effort, organisation and tactical adaptability. While O’Neill is justified in demanding more fight from his squad, greater intensity will not automatically resolve the team’s structural problems.

The players need a clearer framework and a better understanding of how to respond when opponents alter their shape. Those issues remained unresolved at Ibrox, even after half-time offered an opportunity to make changes.

Thursday’s Europa League clash with Ferencváros now provides Celtic with an immediate chance to respond. The squad must show the hunger and resilience O’Neill has called for, but the coaching staff must also provide a tactical plan capable of producing a much-improved performance.