Former Celtic Captain Expresses Doubt Over Manager's Future Amidst Pressure

Former Celtic captain Paul Lambert has stated he would not be surprised if manager Martin O'Neill decides to step down from his role.

O'Neill indicated after a recent 1-0 defeat to Rangers that he would take time during the international break to consider his future. The 74-year-old manager has faced intense scrutiny following two successive losses to Rangers and a Europa League defeat to Ferencvaros within the past week. O'Neill himself acknowledged the criticism and questioned his own ability to turn the team's fortunes around, even pondering if it was time to 'wrap it up'.

Lambert, who played under O'Neill during a successful period at the turn of the millennium, believes the club would not sack O'Neill but would understand if he chose to leave. "It wouldn’t surprise me if he left," Lambert said. "I don’t think he needs it. I would 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."

Lambert added that O'Neill has earned enough goodwill at the club, recalling a time when fans were calling for a statue in his honor. He emphasized that if O'Neill wishes to depart, it would be his own decision.

O'Neill returned as interim manager twice last season, stepping in after the departures of Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy, and led the team to a domestic league and cup double. He signed a permanent deal in the summer, but despite Celtic currently leading the league by two points, the club is facing a period of crisis. A Champions League exit against LASK, where the team conceded a significant lead, has been cited as a precursor to recent struggles.

Lambert also called on the players to take responsibility for the team's performance. He specifically addressed comments made by defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, who described Celtic's style of play as 'too random'. Lambert found these remarks inappropriate, stating, "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’."

Despite the mounting pressure, Carter-Vickers asserted that the players remain supportive of O'Neill and the management team. He acknowledged the difficult week but expressed confidence in the team's ability to overcome challenges, as they have done in the past. Carter-Vickers also pointed to the influx of new players as a factor in the team's current performance, drawing parallels to previous seasons where initial struggles were overcome. "We’re probably at the start of that process again, so for me it’s just important to be consistent and clear in what you want to do and stick with it," he remarked.