Martin O’Neill hits back at Frank McAvennie over Celtic comments

Martin O’Neill has responded calmly to recent criticism of Celtic F.C. from former striker Frank McAvennie.

McAvennie recently claimed Celtic’s performances have become uninspiring, suggesting the team has lost its edge against Scottish Premiership opposition. However, O’Neill appeared largely unfazed when asked about the remarks, admitting he hadn’t even been aware of them initially.

Rather than hitting back, O’Neill took a measured approach, acknowledging that criticism is part of football and often justified. He insisted he is no longer overly concerned with outside opinions, stressing that his focus remains on the team’s progress and future improvement.

The experienced manager also expressed confidence that Celtic can raise their level, particularly looking ahead to next season, where he expects stronger performances and a more competitive start.

While he spoke warmly of McAvennie as a personality, O’Neill suggested the criticism may not carry much weight, hinting that the former forward may not have closely followed recent matches.

Ultimately, O’Neill made it clear that while he still cares deeply about football, he is no longer troubled by external criticism—choosing instead to concentrate on continued development within the club.