Paul Lambert says Carter-Vickers comments were ‘bang out of order’ after Celtic defeat | OneFootball

Paul Lambert admits he would not be surprised if Martin O’Neill walked away from Celtic, but insists he would be “shocked and disappointed” if the club sacked his former manager.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill looks on during the Scottish Premiership 2026/27 match between Celtic and the Rangers at Celtic Park on September 20, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

O’Neill revealed he will use the international break to reflect on his position following Celtic’s latest defeat to Rangers.

The 74-year-old has overseen three successive losses, with back-to-back derby defeats coming either side of the Europa League setback against Ferencvaros.

Speaking after Sunday’s 1-0 loss at Celtic Park, O’Neill said: “I will reflect on the games.”

He added: “I’m not immune from criticism. Absolutely and utterly far from it.

“I think there’s every reason to ask ‘can you turn this round? Can you change the whole thing?’ I have to kind of look at the bigger picture at this minute.”

Lambert, who played under O’Neill during his hugely successful first spell at Celtic, believes his former boss has earned the right to make his own decision over his future.

The former Celtic captain said via BBC Sport Scotland: “It wouldn’t surprise me if he left. I don’t think he needs it.

“I’d be shocked and disappointed if Celtic sacked him.

“I think they give him the option, if that’s what’s on his mind, if he did want to walk away.

“He’s got enough credit in the bank. It wasn’t that long ago people were shouting for a statue for him, so I don’t think you can go from one extreme to the other.

“If he wants to go, then he goes himself.”

“They were hanging on by a thread and he turned that around,” Lambert said.

“There was only one person who could rescue Celtic last season and he did that.

“I’d bet any money that he hasn’t changed anything from how he was then.”

However, Lambert was far less sympathetic towards Celtic’s players and took particular issue with Cameron Carter-Vickers’ comments about the team playing “too random” and “getting a script and sticking to it”.

“The players need to take responsibility. I watched the game and dear oh dear…

“That was cringeworthy, the stuff from Carter-Vickers. I thought ‘hang on, you’re not making a movie.

“Solve the problem yourselves. When something is not going right, you look to rectify it, you don’t look to a manager to say ‘do this or do that’.

“I thought that was bang out of order, coming from someone who’s been a decent player for Celtic.”

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