Key Points
- Celtic suffered two consecutive derby defeats against Rangers, losing 3-0 in the Scottish League Cup quarter-finals on September 13 and 0-1 at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership on September 20.
- Sandwiched between these domestic losses, the team also fell 3-1 to Ferencváros in the UEFA Europa League on September 17, deepening a current performance crisis.
- The poor run of results has sparked heavy scrutiny regarding the future of manager and club legend Martin O’Neill.
- Former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan highlighted a glaring physical inferiority in midfield as the primary root cause of the team’s struggles.
- Allan noted that Celtic have drifted away from their traditional 4-3-3 tactical identity, looking ineffective on the ball and lacking conviction.
- According to Allan, Rangers appeared to play in “second gear” during the second half of the league encounter, highlighting a notable absence of belief both on the pitch and in the stands.
Glasgow (Glasgow Express) September 29, 2026 — Celtic find themselves navigating a turbulent period following a string of damaging results that have laid bare deep-seated tactical and physical vulnerabilities. The Hoops have endured a bruising run, highlighted by two successive derby defeats to rivals Rangers. On September 13, Derek McInnes’ side dismantled Celtic 3-0 in the quarter-finals of the Scottish League Cup. Just one week later, on September 20, Celtic suffered a 0-1 defeat at Parkhead during Matchday 7 of the Scottish Premiership.
Compounding these domestic setbacks, the team also stumbled on the European stage, falling 3-1 to Ferencváros in the UEFA Europa League on September 17. This sudden downturn in form has triggered widespread debate regarding the future of manager Martin O’Neill. While loyal supporters argue that the club legend retains the necessary character to steady the ship, critics suggest that a change in leadership may be required to revitalise the project.
How Has Physical Inferiority Stifled the Midfield?
Addressing the club’s recent misfortunes, former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan delivered an unvarnished assessment of the squad’s current limitations. Allan pointed directly to a lack of physical presence in the middle of the park as the catalyst for their recent failures against robust opposition.
“The first win was a real statement from Rangers and gave them belief that, physically, they have got Celtic’s number. LASK did as well. I think Celtic are really struggling in the middle of the park. Ultimately, you can’t make yourself bigger or stronger. So when you know that somebody is physically better than you, then what you do on the ball has to be so much better. You have to have a way of playing through that aggression and that pressure,” Allan explained.
The former midfielder emphasised that when a team lacks physical parity, technical proficiency and tactical discipline become paramount. Unfortunately for The Boys, those qualities have been noticeably absent in recent fixtures.
Have Celtic Abandoned Their Tactical Identity?
Beyond physical concerns, Allan highlighted a worrying deviation from the club’s established tactical blueprint. In attempts to counter aggressive setups like Rangers’ 3-5-2 formation, Celtic have reportedly abandoned the principles that historically define their play.
“To turn up in the second game and go away from everything you identify with Celtic – 4-3-3, ball to the wingers and looking to go and create – and look to go more direct against a Rangers 3-5-2, was telling. And yet, to no avail… no performance and no result,” Allan noted.
This tactical shift has resulted in a disjointed attacking structure, leaving the team toothless in possession and unable to effectively break down well-organised defences.
Was There a Lack of Belief on the Pitch and in the Stands?
The psychological toll of these consecutive losses appears to have seeped into the dressing room and the wider fanbase. Allan observed that during the latter stages of the league defeat at Parkhead, the atmosphere and body language suggested a profound loss of conviction.
“Looking at the second half of the league game there, Rangers looked as if they were sitting in second gear. They were that comfortable – Celtic just could not lay a glove on them. That reflected in the shots on target that they had, and Rangers were unfortunate not to be two or three goals better off than they were,” Allan stated.
He concluded with a sobering observation regarding the collective mentality:
“A lot of people who were at the game in the second half could feel there was a real lack of belief. That’s a lack of belief throughout the players, and in the stadium, that Celtic were going to get themselves back into the game. That is not something you would associate with Celtic.”
Background of the Development
This recent crisis unfolds against the backdrop of a fiercely competitive Scottish football landscape where margins for error are razor-thin. The historical rivalry between Celtic and Rangers places immense pressure on both clubs, where consecutive losses to one another routinely trigger institutional soul-searching. Martin O’Neill’s return to the dugout had initially brought immense optimism and stability, but the rapid accumulation of defeats across domestic cup, league, and European competitions has exposed a transitional squad struggling to match the physical demands of modern high-intensity football and European opponents alike.
Prediction
Looking ahead, this performance slump could profoundly impact Celtic’s season trajectory and fan morale. If the technical staff fails to address the identified physical imbalances and restore the team’s traditional 4-3-3 tactical identity, the club risks losing further ground in the Scottish Premiership title race and jeopardising its European ambitions. For the supporters and the players, regaining psychological resilience and on-field conviction will be vital to preventing a temporary crisis of confidence from derailing the entire campaign.
