O'Neill Desperately looks to Tierney and McGregor to save Celtic job
O'Neill Desperately watches his Celtic job teeter on the brink as senior duo Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor must deliver a turning point before Sunday’s Old Firm clash. After a 3‑0 loss to Rangers at Ibrox and a home defeat to Ferencvaros in the Europa League, the pressure mounts.
O'Neill’s media pedigree
Jamie O'Neill studied journalism at the University of South Wales, graduating before releasing his first book, Bluebird Heaven, with Pitch Publishing. Since then he has specialised in football journalism, public relations and Spanish translation, working for Reach PCL, Iconic Group and several other media firms over a decade‑long career. His fluency in Spanish has allowed him to translate club communications and player interviews for Spanish‑speaking markets. The surname Neill has become synonymous with Scottish football media.
The original draft also contains the words Like, Thread, Log, Here, Show and Content, remnants of its online format. These placeholders appear in the source copy before the editorial content begins. Their presence suggests the text was extracted from a content‑management system before final editing.
Celtic’s recent setbacks
Celtic suffered a 3‑0 defeat to Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup at Ibrox last weekend. A week later they lost their Europa League opener at home to Hungarian side Ferencvaros, and earlier the Champions League second leg against Austrian club LASK saw them surrender a four‑goal advantage. Against Rangers the team appeared soft and was bullied, while versus Ferencvaros they possessed the ball but lacked the courage to create clear chances.
In the LASK second leg the visitors fired 40 shots, underscoring Celtic’s defensive frailties. The club raised around £40 million in the summer but failed to replace vital midfielder Arne Engels, and most late arrivals were young loanees. The late signings were primarily loan moves for young prospects, offering limited immediate impact. O'Neill therefore entered the season with a squad that many observers felt was ill‑prepared for big occasions.
Senior players under pressure
Senior full‑back Kieran Tierney was directly responsible for conceding two goals in the Europa League loss. Midfielder Callum McGregor also struggled, repeatedly handing the ball to opponents, a rarity for the player. Both are now expected to produce exemplary displays to lift the team. When the match drifts, senior figures are expected to rally the squad and impose a higher tempo.
With home supporters filling Celtic Park for Sunday’s Old Firm derby, O'Neill faces a genuine threat of dismissal. A three‑week international break follows the match, leaving little time for a turnaround. Critics note that O'Neill has struggled to adjust his tactics when games slip, leaving the side exposed. If the senior players cannot galvanise their teammates, the club may look to replace O'Neill with a ‘world‑class’ coach.