Celtic's Martin O'Neill Faces Scrutiny After Derby Defeat
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill heads into a pivotal week under growing scrutiny after a bruising derby defeat at Ibrox, with former striker Cillian Sheridan questioning key selection calls in the 3-0 League Cup quarter-final loss to Rangers.
Selection shock at Ibrox
Sheridan, speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, did not hide his surprise at seeing Sebastian Tounekti in the starting XI ahead of summer signing Haissem Hassan.
The winger, still feeling his way into life at Celtic, watched Tounekti get the nod in a front line that never truly ignited. Hassan arrived only at half-time, by which point Rangers were in control and Celtic were chasing shadows.
"I was surprised that Tounekti started," Sheridan said. "I thought the game was built for Hassan and to see the front three of Hassan, Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran."
For Sheridan, this was not a marginal call. It was the kind of decision that shapes the rhythm of a derby. He argued that if there were any concerns over Hassan’s fitness, O'Neill should still have trusted him from the outset.
"If there were worries over Hassan's fitness, you start him and give him 60 minutes," he added. "I just knew as soon as the team was announced that that half-time change was coming."
The change did come. It was too late to salvage the tie.
“Too many players didn't show up”
Sheridan’s criticism went beyond one selection. He painted a picture of a Celtic side that simply failed to meet the demands of the occasion.
"I can imagine personnel changing [on Thursday] because I think there were too many players that didn't show up against Rangers," he said.
That, more than the tactical tweaks, will sting inside the Celtic dressing room. A derby defeat can be explained. A derby no-show rarely is forgiven.
O'Neill, Sheridan believes, will not escape the fallout.
"O'Neill will maybe take a little bit of criticism, probably for his selections and one or two subs he made."
At a club of Celtic’s size, "a little bit" can quickly become a lot. Especially with another Rangers clash looming.
Ferencvaros, then Rangers again
There is no soft landing. Celtic open their Europa League campaign at home to Ferencvaros on Thursday, a game that now doubles as a test of O'Neill’s response as much as his team’s.
Sheridan expects changes. Not cosmetic ones, but a reshaping of the side that failed to lay a glove on Rangers in the cup.
The timing is brutal. Three days after Ferencvaros, Rangers visit again, this time in the Scottish Premiership. Another poor performance and the narrative around O'Neill’s early-season work will harden quickly.
"At clubs like Celtic and Rangers, as soon as one bad result comes, it's magnified and the season's in crisis," Sheridan said.
The crisis talk has already started. How O'Neill picks his team for Thursday – and who finally does show up – will decide whether it deepens or dies.
