Celtic Must Regroup After Old Firm Defeat

Martin O'Neill has vowed Celtic will “get ourselves right” as they try to shake off the scars of Sunday’s bruising Old Firm defeat and relaunch their season in Europe.

The Scottish champions were dismantled 3-0 by Rangers at Ibrox in the Scottish League Cup, a display that drew heavy criticism for its lack of fight and edge in a derby that usually crackles. Now they must regroup quickly, with Ferencvaros visiting Parkhead on Thursday in their Europa League opener before a rapid-fire league rematch with Rangers on Sunday.

Two games. One week. A chance to change the mood.

“Every game that Celtic lose, there's a crisis, and of course even bigger if you lose to Rangers, so we've done enough talking about it,” O'Neill said on Wednesday, cutting through the noise at his pre-match press conference.

The message from the 74-year-old was blunt. No excuses, no hiding.

“Our players are disappointed with the performance, we could have done better, I think we accept that, and we just apply ourselves now again for the league fixtures.”

This is O’Neill’s second full-time spell in charge of Celtic, and he knows as well as anyone how unforgiving Glasgow can be after an Old Firm setback. The manner of Sunday’s loss stung: Celtic were second best, outpaced and outmuscled, and never looked like hauling themselves back into the tie.

He did not attempt to soften the blow.

“We were disappointed ourselves, we disappointed the fans and now we just have to rise to the occasion,” he admitted. “We've got two matches in which to do so before the break. Two big games for us, Ferencvaros will not be easy, but we've done it before, we'll get ourselves right.”

Ferencvaros arrive as awkward guests. A seasoned European outfit, dangerous enough to punish any lingering Celtic hangover from Ibrox. Yet the real scrutiny will fall on Celtic’s mentality, not their opponents’ reputation.

Five of O'Neill's starting XI on Sunday were tasting the Old Firm for the first time. The step up, he suggested, hit them hard.

“I think it was an eye opener to some of the newer lads,” he said. “We've got to find out about players, about whether they're capable of dealing with these games. Hopefully, over the course of time, they will be.”

That is the test now. Not just whether Celtic can beat Ferencvaros under the Parkhead lights, but whether this squad can absorb a derby humiliation, respond with authority, and walk back into another clash with Rangers four days later with their nerve intact.