Celtic are entering a critical four-day stretch, with manager Martin O'Neill's side facing significant scrutiny after a 3-0 Premier Sports Cup quarter-final defeat to city rivals Rangers. The team will first play Ferencvaros in their Europa League opener, followed by a league rematch against Rangers on Sunday.
Despite a winning start to the Scottish Premiership season with six consecutive victories, concerns persist among supporters and pundits regarding performance levels, particularly in big games. Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton stated his "great concerns" for the team, suggesting they have "big issues" after their recent derby loss.
Sutton, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, described Celtic's midfield as "lightweight" and said it was "run all over" by Rangers. Captain Callum McGregor also reportedly lamented Celtic's "team of individuals" after the Ibrox defeat. O'Neill, however, responded bullishly to questions about team selection, highlighting the team's domestic winning record.
Celtic's Premiership winning streak now stands at 13 games, but four of their six wins this season have been by a single goal. The team has also faced 64 attempts in the Premiership this season, a tally that makes up almost a quarter of the total faced in the entire 2024-25 league-winning campaign.