Martin O’Neill will take stock as his future as Celtic boss comes under further scrutiny following the 1-0 defeat by Rangers at Parkhead.
The Light Blues cruised to a 3-0 League Cup win over the Hoops at Ibrox last Sunday and, in the Scottish Premiership rematch, a first-half strike by Ryan Naderi took Derek McInnes’ side to within two points of the Hoops at the top of the table going into the international break.
In his second spell as permanent manager after two stints as interim boss last season, O’Neill was under growing pressure going into the game after the 3-1 loss to Ferencvaros at Parkhead on Thursday night.
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Ryan Naderi fired Rangers to victory at Celtic Park
Following another poor performance, the 74-year-old spoke about entering a period of self-reflection.
“I genuinely will reflect and see,” the Northern Irishman said. “It’s a matter of whether I can help the team. The manager is supposed to be able to do that. I will look at that this week.
“I think every single time something crops up and things don’t go so well, age plays a part. And, do you know what, they might be right. I’ll be 110 in two years’ time so it might be time to wrap it up.
“I will reflect on the games and speak to the board. You never know, they may well want to speak to me. I’ll try to get a couple of days away and see how it goes.”
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O’Neill felt the latest Old Firm defeat was a close game but he was shut down by former striker Chris Sutton who was left disappointed by the loss
Asked what would happen if he reflected, then decided he could not improve the team, O’Neill replied: “By that time, I will promise you, I’ll let you know.
“I don’t know. I’ll have a look.”
O’Neill addressed the growing negativity within the Hoops support, saying: “Well, I think they’re absolutely entitled.
“I mentioned this to you on Friday, absolutely entitled to, of course.
“And I’m not immune from criticism. Far from it. Absolutely and utterly far from it.
“I think there’s every reason to ask, ‘can you turn this round? Can you change the whole thing?’
“We are, as I said, two points clear, so I have to kind of look at the bigger picture at this minute.
“But I knew that we were in a big, big fight anyway, with both ourselves, Rangers, and Hearts again, who are far from out of anything.
“It’s a long season ahead. It’s not the first time I’ve been questioned about my managerial time. So, yeah, I’ll have a look at it. I will reflect and see.”
‘Celtic have big problems’
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Kris Boyd and Neil Lennon on Celtic’s dismal display against Rangers
Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon on Sky Sports:
“He’s [Martin O’Neill] changed formation, he made four changes midweek. He’s trying to find a recipe to get some fluidity.
“Rangers were the far superior team, not just in physical attributes and running power, but football.
“They played all the football. Celtic were a lot better than they have been in the first half, without being brilliant.
“But second half, totally disjointed, totally outplayed. Outworked, which is the worst thing you can label at a team. Really disjointed, battered, actually battered.
“All the best players were in a blue shirt today. Celtic have a lot to ponder and a lot to work out.
“They’ve got an international break, which is probably coming at a good time for them. I know a lot of them may be away playing for their countries but there needs to be a total reset because the last three performances in the space of a week have been very poor.”
Sky Sports’ Chris Sutton:
“Knowing Martin, he’ll be greatly concerned. I don’t like to disagree with him but it wasn’t a close game. There was a massive gulf between the teams.
“I can’t actually remember a Celtic team getting such a doing at Celtic Park from a Rangers team, which happened today.
“It looked like Celtic were making it up as they went along. Rangers were better in every department.
“Celtic have got big problems. They were smashed by Rangers and that’s a concern.”