O’Neill Downplays Must-Win Tag Ahead of Old Firm Clash
Martin O’Neill insists this Old Firm showdown is not a season-defining “must-win” – but he knows exactly what a third straight defeat would do to Celtic’s psyche.
On the eve of the derby, the Celtic manager was pressed on whether victory over Rangers is essential to protect their position at the top of the table. He refused to dress it up as a title crossroads, even as he acknowledged the stakes.
“No, it's too early in the season to say,” O’Neill said. “It would be great if we could win because we could go eight points clear, and we've won the previous six league games.
“The game is big. It's a big game whether it's played in September or March. It's a really big game. We need to be up for the game. Do we need to win the game? It would be nice to win; it wouldn't be great if we lost. That would be three on the trot, and of course, psychologically, it would be a blow.”
So it’s not must-win. But it’s certainly must-not-lose.
Manager under fire, and not dodging it
O’Neill walks into this derby under a sharper glare than usual. Recent results have invited criticism of his tactical approach, with supporters and pundits picking apart what they see as an overly cautious set-up and a defensive tone in post-match interviews.
He did not pretend to be surprised.
“That's the nature of the game. I can get a bit tetchy now and again,” he admitted. “Sometimes I have to apologise for that. What I did say was that we don't seem to be questioned when we win football matches. But everybody has a right to ask.
“At the end of it all, I'm responsible for team selection, I'm responsible for the tactics, and of course I should be questioned.”
No deflection. No hiding behind players or circumstance. If Celtic falter again, O’Neill knows where the spotlight will land.
Rangers chase a slice of history
Across the city, Rangers arrive with a chance to etch their own line in Old Firm history. Victory would give them back-to-back wins over Celtic in the space of a single week – something achieved only twice before, in 1960 and 1998.
There is a personal milestone on the line too. Derek McInnes can match Graeme Souness’ feat by winning his first two Old Firm derbies as Rangers manager. For any Ibrox boss, that is rare air.
McInnes, though, batted away the tactical chess narratives that usually swirl around this fixture.
“I think sometimes tactics can get a wee bit overplayed,” he said. “I think you normally win games through the individual moments and the performances of players being really high and really strong.
“You don't win at Celtic Park unless everybody plays well. So, we've got to try and bring something similar and look for those improvements again.”
Rangers travel knowing the script: collective intensity, big moments, no passengers. Celtic enter knowing the cost of another slip. Between a manager under scrutiny and a rival chasing history, this derby carries a weight that no one around Glasgow is treating as “just another game” – whatever the league table says in September.
