Martin O’Neill’s Big Revelation Ahead Of Post-Split Phase: Can Celtic Defy The Odds? | OneFootball

Celtic are currently sitting third in the Scottish Premiership with 67 points, trailing league leaders Hearts by just three as the season heads into the final post-split showdown. Speaking on Celtic TV, Martin O’Neill made it clear he’s more than happy with where the team stand, admitting he would have absolutely taken this position when he stepped back into the dugout last October.

Martin O’Neill backs Celtic charge as Title race ignites

The veteran boss arrived to steady the ship after Wilfried Nancy’s brief 33-day stint, which saw the team leak 12 points and tumble down the table. Since O’Neill took over for this run, the Hoops have only lost twice in the league, finding a defensive grit that has kept them right in the hunt for the trophy.

He pointed to a frustrating home defeat to Hibs, made worse by Auston Trusty’s red card, and a tough second half at Dundee United as the only real stains on his domestic record. Even with those setbacks, picking up points at Ibrox and Tynecastle has given them the platform they need for a late-season push.

“Yeah, I suppose I would have done because there were a lot of games.

“When I left after the first time, we were winning the games. It was great. Suddenly, this extra time that you seem to be going to get, that causes its own sorts of problems, really.

“But our record in the league across the whole time, we’ve lost two league games.

“We lost at home to Hibs when Trusty got sent off; we were in the ascendancy at that time. Who knows? I don’t think we’d have lost a game.

“Dundee United was disappointing in the second half, particularly. And we’ve drawn the two games away at Hearts and away at Rangers.

“So, overall, if you’d said to me coming in way back at the end of October, would I settle for this position? Absolutely.”

The Northern Irishman noted that the sheer volume of games and the massive amount of stoppage time in today’s game have thrown up some unique tactical challenges for his players. He mentioned that while winning felt a bit more routine during his first spell years ago, he’s been impressed by how this squad has stayed in the fight.

It’s clear O’Neill believes Celtic have the heart to move past their earlier wobbles. With 21 wins from 33 games and a +24 goal difference, the stats show a team hitting their stride at just the right time. Supporters are now eyeing the upcoming matches against Falkirk and Motherwell, before a massive home derby against Rangers that will likely define O’Neill’s impact.

Can O’Neill’s Celtic defy the odds and grab the title?

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MARCH 14: Celtic manager Martin O’Neil reacts during the William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park on March 14, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The way Scottish football looks right now, Celtic are staring down their most unpredictable title race in years, needing to jump past both a revitalised Rangers and a clinical Hearts side. While O’Neill has plugged the holes left by the old regime, the reality is that Celtic are still in third with 67 points, sitting three behind Hearts and two behind Rangers as of 22 April 2026.

This means they’ll need to be almost perfect in these final five games, especially during the important Glasgow Derby at Celtic Park. Everything comes down to whether the team can keep the clinical edge they showed in the 2-0 win over Falkirk and avoid the kind of second-half collapses seen at Tannadice.

The numbers from FotMob tell a compelling story. Celtic have bagged 59 goals, second only to Rangers’ 66, but they’ve let in more than their rivals at the top. That defensive shakiness is the biggest hurdle O’Neill has to clear as he heads into the post-split pressure cooker.

If the Hoops can bag maximum points from their next two, the pressure might just shift onto a Hearts side that have led for most of the spring. Most fans agree O’Neill has done a massive job just getting the club back into a three-way scrap, but at the end of the day, this season will be judged on trophies, not just a solid comeback. Celtic have to turn this stability into a ruthless run of wins if they want to get back to the top of the Scottish game.