Martin O’Neill responds firmly to Derek McInnes comments about Celtic F.C.

Martin O’Neill has firmly rejected attempts from Derek McInnes to place the title-race pressure squarely on Celtic F.C.ahead of a massive night at Fir Park.

Celtic head into their clash with Motherwell F.C. knowing victory would set up a dramatic final-day showdown against Heart of Midlothian F.C. at Celtic Park. Momentum has swung back towards the Hoops after their commanding 3-1 Old Firm victory over Rangers F.C., combined with Hearts dropping points against Motherwell at the weekend.

That shift prompted McInnes to suggest Celtic had now become favourites to win the title after spending much of the run-in chasing Hearts. But O’Neill refused to buy into that narrative, insisting the race remains wide open and warning that Celtic still face two extremely difficult fixtures before they can think about lifting the trophy.

The experienced manager stressed that winning at Fir Park is never straightforward, particularly with Motherwell still fighting for their own objectives. O’Neill made it clear he expects a hugely difficult challenge away from home and refused to look beyond the immediate task in front of his side.

He also acknowledged that while Celtic’s destiny is now back in their own hands, that alone does not suddenly make them favourites. Instead, he pointed to the pressure and difficulty of having to win two high-stakes matches in succession against highly motivated opposition.

O’Neill referenced the damaging defeat to Dundee United F.C. earlier in the title race as a reminder of how quickly momentum can change. At that stage, Celtic appeared to be losing control of the championship battle while Hearts looked firmly in command. Now, however, results elsewhere have reopened the door and given the Parkhead side a genuine opportunity to snatch the title back.

Despite that turnaround, O’Neill appears determined to shield his players from any growing expectation. The veteran boss knows Hearts would welcome Celtic carrying the psychological burden of being labelled favourites heading into such a tense encounter at Fir Park.

Instead, his focus remains entirely on ensuring Celtic avoid distractions and deal with the challenge directly in front of them. Motherwell have already shown they are capable of influencing the destination of the title, and O’Neill clearly wants his squad concentrating solely on securing the result required before any thoughts turn towards the final day against Hearts.