Martin taking it all in his stride as he looks to get back to winning ways | OneFootball

Football is such a fickle game these days, so much so that one day you could be a hero and icon, and the next day the proverbial pitchforks are being sharpened and ready to be wielded in your direction…

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Celtic FC and Ferencvarosi TC at Celtic Park on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Martin O’Neill is no different, and despite his legendary status as a club legend due to his success two decades ago, as well as leading the side to the most unlikeliest of title wins last season, he currently cuts a much vilified figure due to back to back losses against the Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup and Ferencvaros in the Europa League opener.

That last one of course only came about because the team threw away a 4-0 aggregate lead against LASK in the Champions League qualifiers allowing the Austrian side to score five goals to eliminate us from the competition.

Callum McGregor of Celtic at full time during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Celtic FC and Ferencvarosi TC at Celtic Park on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Martin might have taken that personally in his heyday, but nowadays he insists that he takes no notice to the off field noise, especially the most vocal ones on social media.

“It doesn’t bother me”

Speaking to the mainstream media yesterday, the Celtic manager said: “No, it doesn’t, honestly. Not at all. Absolutely not. It’s the nature of the game. Would that have hurt me when I was manager of Leicester City? That might have done, you know. But no, life has changed.

“Do I think I have enough goodwill in the bank? No, I don’t. I never thought like that. You are only as good as your last game at the end of the day. And I mean that. It doesn’t bother me in that sense.

“That call could (to change manager) could easily be my brother at the end of the day. So what I’m saying is that it doesn’t bother me now in that sense.

“Does winning and losing bother me? Of course, that does. But if you lose football matches, you will get criticised. And we’ve lost the two big games there in the week. So, I accept that.”

Martin O’Neill, Manager of Celtic looks on before during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Celtic FC and Ferencvarosi TC at Celtic Park on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“Nobody questioned tactics when you’re winning football matches”

And whilst he doesn’t care too much about his critics, Martin insisted that he still cares deeply when it comes to winning.

“You would hope that that would be the case, you know. And you would want to try and win. Nobody questioned tactics when you’re winning football matches.

“And when you lose a game or two, yeah, of course, everything’s under scrutiny. That’s the nature of it. And I’m not going to change that.

“I’m not surprised. I’m not on social media or anything like this. But nothing surprises me in that aspect. And should I get more time and things? No. No, I don’t think so.”

Camilo Duran of Celtic arrives at the stadium before during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Celtic FC and Ferencvarosi TC at Celtic Park on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“Jock Stein can talk about a legacy. The rest of us are just followers”

The Irishman also said that he wasn’t losing much sleep over the status of his much talked legacy at the club.

Martin added: “Honestly, I’ve never worried about legacy. I’ve said this before and worth repeating. Jock Stein can talk about a legacy. The rest of us are just followers.”

Haissem Hassan of Celtic arrives at the stadium before during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Celtic FC and Ferencvarosi TC at Celtic Park on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Martin also spoke of the supporters anger and bemusement at the his side’s current style of football, with the players looking somewhat lost out in the pitch.

“Frustrating for the crowd to see that”

“They went into their shell a little bit. I wouldn’t dispute that, that is true. I think a little bit of frustration with the crowd, I think quite rightly because we come out with the ball, then we get a certain distance, it looks as if there’s nothing on for us to play then it goes backwards.

“If it continues to go backwards, then of course it would be frustrating for the crowd to see that.”

He said: “It’s easy for me to say this, but centre-halves have it now and they seem to look as if they’ve got space in which to travel into, then that space gets closed down and it’s almost as if it’s scary. That’s when they think, ‘I don’t want to lose the ball, so I’ll play it back.’

Kasper Hogh of Celtic arrives at the stadium before during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Celtic FC and Ferencvarosi TC at Celtic Park on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“We need to start on the front foot”

“The encouragement has to be to take a few risks, not just outside your own penalty area. I’m talking if the opposition have stayed off you for a while and you can go in that extra ten or 15 yards, which makes all the difference.”

Martin agreed that we need to start positively on Sunday if we want to earn a positive result.

He said: “Absolutely. We need to start on the front foot and not get too frustrated with it and try and create some chances in the game and see if we can get the first goal. That would help as well too but not to panic either at the same time if Rangers score first, which they did in that big game at Celtic Park.”

Callum McGregor of Celtic arrives at the stadium before the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Celtic FC and Ferencvarosi TC at Celtic Park on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“Of course. That could have happened last Sunday as well too. We could have scored the first goal and analysing that particular game, we beat ourselves with the goals that we conceded.

“Rangers won’t look at it like that, that’s the way that we do. But I take all of your points into consideration. For us to start on the front foot, be strong, be positive, and be ready for the game.”

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