Leaden, stale, disheartening: Where do Celtic & Martin O'Neill go from here?
BBC Sport reports on the struggles faced by Celtic and their manager, Martin O'Neill, with a recent series of heavy defeats.
After their shellacking at Ibrox on Sunday, Celtic's response against Ferencvaros was another heavy defeat and three more goals conceded. More absent-minded gameplay in the midfield, coupled with poor defending and lack of intensity, left them vulnerable.
At times, Celtic tried to stage a comeback but these efforts were largely from distance, lacking coherence and pressing. The style of play under previous manager Ange Postecoglou, known for its aggression, ingenuity, dynamism, and risk-taking, is nowhere to be seen.
"Things can turn quickly in Scottish football." The author reflects on the potential for a turnaround at Celtic Park, following their disappointing results against LASK and Rangers.
The current team's performance is reminiscent of past struggles against teams like Legia Warsaw, Salzburg, and Maribor, characterized by low energy levels and psychological damage.
O'Neill, known for fixing problems in his previous roles, appears to be struggling to find solutions for Celtic's current issues. His post-match comments reflected the flat tone of his team's performance, lacking spirit and answers.