O'Neill demands Old Firm flops prove their worth at Celtic

Martin O’Neill has told his Celtic squad that they must demonstrate the character required to succeed at Celtic Park after a bruising weekend.

By JOHN MCGARRY, SCOTTISH CHIEF SPORTS FEATURE WRITER, on 16 September 2026, the veteran manager issued a stark challenge to his players.

Recent setbacks and cup exits

Sunday’s dismal defeat at Ibrox saw the Parkhead club knocked out of the Premier Sports Cup at the quarter‑final stage, a 3‑0 loss that underscored the intensity of an Old Firm clash.

That humiliation followed a capitulation in Austria to LASK, which eliminated Celtic from the Champions League play‑off despite having a four‑goal aggregate lead.

“That’s exactly what it’s all about,” O’Neill said. “It takes big character. You have to accept the fact that even at home you misplace the ball two or three times, the crowd can get on you, and you must fight that.”

Upcoming tests and squad challenges

O’Neill’s men now face Ferencvaros in the Europa League opener on Thursday evening before a home Premiership clash with Rangers on Sunday.

The manager, who has overseen ten new signings this summer, believes the two fixtures before the international break will be a defining test of character for the squad.

He also revealed that forward Camilo Duran, called up by Colombia for the first time, missed training after travelling to London for a visa but will be available for the Ferencvaros game.

“They gave us two other dates, one of which was a game. The other didn’t suit us at all,” O’Neill explained, noting the appointment was at about eight o’clock in the morning, forcing Duran to travel the night before.

When asked if the visa issue disrupted preparation, the Celtic boss compared it to the situation of Haissem Hassan on Sunday, saying the forward’s sleep patterns were affected and that he would not start the match.