Celtic v Ferencvaros – Martin O’Neill lays down Celtic challenge after Rangers defeat | OneFootball

Martin O’Neill has challenged his Celtic players to show the “big character” required to represent the club as they look to respond to Sunday’s damaging Glasgow Derby defeat.

13th September 2026; Ibrox, Scottish League Cup, Rangers versus Celtic; Celtic manager Martin O’Neill. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

The Hoops begin their Europa League campaign against Ferencvaros at Celtic Park on Thursday, just four days after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox.

O’Neill believes several of Celtic’s summer arrivals are still adapting to the demands that come with playing for the club.

“It’s about wanting to have what it takes to be a Celtic player,” O’Neill said via TCW. “What does it take? It takes big character. You have accept the fact that even at home, you misplace the ball two or three times, the crowd can get on you.

“It happens all over the place but it seems to be magnified. You’ve got to be able to fight that. The great Tommy Burns once said it’s easier to play against Celtic than to play for them, which is a really good point.

“It’s every game that Celtic lose, there’s a crisis, and of course, even bigger if you lose to Rangers. We’ve done enough talking about it.”

O’Neill also admitted Sunday’s performance prompted further reflection over Celtic’s tactical approach, although he stressed there have been warning signs even during their victories this season.

“While the question’s asked there about tactics and formations, you always question that. Sometimes you even question it before the game starts. But definitely afterwards,” O’Neill continued. “It’s not to say when we’ve won some matches this season that everything’s been rosy. Far from it. We’ve had to battle through.

“I think the players who have arrived at the football club, who don’t probably initially get what it’s all about here or across the road, have to in time get it.”

One of O’Neill’s major selection decisions at Ibrox was handing Sam Johnstone his second Celtic start ahead of Viljami Sinisalo.

Johnstone endured a difficult derby, but O’Neill defended his decision and insists competition between his two goalkeepers remains healthy.

“I wanted him to experience that match at Ibrox,” O’Neill said of Johnstone. “This lad has played a lot of football, he was fourth choice for England not so long ago. But sometimes you haven’t experienced this and you have to go through that.

“Sinisalo has done exceptionally well for us. But I think I need competition for places, I need to know what somebody does.

“Now I’ve got goalkeepers wanting to fight for the position. At some stage or another, one will probably take over.

“That’s the problem with goalkeeping – as loads of manager have found out, when you have two, and one doesn’t play, then it becomes problematic in many aspects. But we haven’t reached that stage. In training, Vil wants to be it. He wants to be the man. His training has been really good.”

Meanwhile, Camilo Duran will be available for Thursday’s European opener despite missing Wednesday’s training session after travelling to London to obtain a visa ahead of his upcoming Colombia commitments.

O’Neill compared the disruption to Haissem Hassan’s preparations for Sunday’s derby.

“It doesn’t help,” O’Neill admitted. “It’s a bit like Haissem Hassan on Sunday. He had to leave the hotel, things that happened at home. His sleep patterns were done for in that sense. We decided not to start him in the game. But things like this happen. Duran’s fit enough.”

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