Liam Scales Urges Senior Celtic Players to Step Up Glasgow 2026

Key Points

• Celtic defender Liam Scales has urged senior players to take personal responsibility and lead by example to turn around the club’s recent dip in form.
• Manager Martin O’Neill’s side has suffered six defeats in their previous 10 matches across all competitions.
• The Scottish Champions are seeking their first Europa League points of the current campaign at the fourth attempt against Turkish side Besiktas at Celtic Park.
• A massive summer squad turnover saw nine new players arrive and a similar number depart, leaving several recruits adjusting to the high demands of playing for Celtic.
• Scales emphasized that the senior core must help newcomers adapt rapidly while admitting that overall team performance has fallen well below established standards.

Celtic (Glasgow Express) November 5, 2026 – Senior Celtic defender Liam Scales has publicly called on the club’s experienced core to take collective responsibility and re-establish standard performance levels as the Scottish Champions aim to halt a challenging run of domestic and European form. Speaking ahead of Celtic’s crucial UEFA Europa League group stage encounter against Turkish giants Besiktas at Celtic Park, the Republic of Ireland international emphasized that the onus falls on established squad members to guide the club through a demanding stretch of fixtures.

The Celtic Park outfit enters tonight’s international fixture on the back of a difficult period that has seen Martin O’Neill’s side lose six of their past 10 matches across all competitions. Furthermore, the club remains without a point in their Europa League group after three consecutive defeats, making tonight’s match against Besiktas a vital fixture for maintaining European ambitions beyond the current stage.

Why Are Senior Celtic Players Being Called On to Take Responsibility?

Addressing the media ahead of the match, Scales highlighted that high individual and team standards have slipped in recent weeks and insisted that seasoned squad members must set the benchmark for recovery. Rather than attributing recent struggles to squad transition, the 26-year-old center-back made it clear that accountability sits squarely with players who fully comprehend the expectations associated with representing the Glasgow side.

Scales stated that

“we probably do need to lead by example a bit more,”

adding that

“we haven’t been meeting the standards of the club and what we’ve set in the last few years, so we know that it’s important for us to get the club back where it should be.”

His comments underline a clear determination within the dressing room to halt the recent drop in consistency and restore standard performance levels both domestically and on the European stage.

How Has Summer Squad Turnover Affected Celtic’s Overall Dynamics?

Celtic underwent significant structural change during the recent summer transfer window, completing the acquisition of nine new players while allowing a similar number of fringe and established figures to exit the club. This substantial turnaround altered existing squad cohesion, requiring incoming signings to rapidly acclimatize to high expectations and relentless competitive pressure.

Reflecting on the psychological demands placed on incoming personnel, Scales noted that adjusting to the unique scale of the club presents a distinct challenge for newcomers. He observed that “there’s been a lot of ins and outs and people are probably still feeling out the club,” further explaining that

“I don’t think everyone understands, when they first come, how big the club is and it can take a while. The hard thing is you don’t really have time to settle in.”

Despite identifying squad integration as a factor, Scales explicitly clarified that his observations were not intended to shift blame onto recent arrivals. He maintained that the adjustment period is a natural phase that requires experienced leadership to navigate effectively.

Scales clarified that

“I don’t want to sound like I’m blaming the new players. That’s not the case at all,”

emphasizing that

“we do need to take responsibility, because the responsibility lies with the more experienced players and players who have experienced what the club is like.”

What Is at Stake for Celtic in Tonight’s Europa League Tie Against Besiktas?

The pressure surrounding Celtic’s season reaches a key point tonight as they host Turkish side Besiktas under the floodlights at Celtic Park. Having failed to collect a single point from their opening three Europa League encounters, failure to secure a positive result against Besiktas would severely jeopardize Celtic’s prospects of progressing out of the group phase.

Manager Martin O’Neill faces the tactical challenge of solidifying a defense that has proven vulnerable during their recent run of six defeats in 10 matches while simultaneously finding the offensive spark required to breach Besiktas’ disciplined backline. With the home crowd expecting a strong response, the match represents a crucial test of character for both the technical staff and the playing squad.

Background of the Particular Development

Celtic entered the current season aiming to build upon back-to-back domestic triumphs and establish a more competitive footprint in European football. However, the summer transfer window brought extensive changes to the playing personnel. The departure of key figures necessitated a rapid rebuild, prompting the club’s hierarchy to bring in nine fresh faces to replenish various positions across the pitch.

Integrating multiple signings during a busy fixture list proved complex. The team experienced inconsistent performances domestically and struggled to find rhythm in Europe, culminating in a difficult sequence where they suffered six losses in 10 competitive fixtures. The rapid sequence of fixtures left minimal tactical preparation time between matches, compounding integration challenges for the incoming recruits.

Liam Scales, who joined Celtic from Shamrock Rovers in 2021 before establishing himself as a primary defensive regular following a successful loan spell at Aberdeen, has experienced the full scope of pressure associated with playing for the club. His public call for accountability reflects a deliberate decision from within the dressing room to address performance metrics directly ahead of a crucial stretch in Celtic’s campaign.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Celtic Supporters and the Playing Squad

This public call for accountability from Liam Scales is likely to have immediate ramifications for both the Celtic playing squad and the club’s passionate supporter base.

For the playing squad, Scales’ remarks set an unmistakable internal standard ahead of a high-stakes European fixture. By publicly taking ownership on behalf of the senior leadership group, Scales reduces external focus on summer signings and places direct expectations on core figures to deliver performance improvements immediately. If established players respond positively on the pitch against Besiktas, it could provide the catalyst needed to stabilize team morale, rebuild tactical rhythm, and kickstart their Europa League group campaign. Conversely, should Celtic fail to deliver a structured performance tonight, pressure on both senior leaders and the management team will intensify significantly heading into upcoming domestic fixtures.

For the Celtic supporters, Scales’ candid assessment offers welcome transparency during a frustrating period of results. Fans who have grown concerned over recent defensive lapses and poor European outcomes will view these comments as a sign that the dressing room recognizes the drop in standards and is actively attempting to rectify it. A strong, energetic performance against Besiktas would help restore faith among the fanbase and re-establish Celtic Park as a difficult venue for visiting teams. However, if standard performance levels are not met, supporter patience may test new limits, placing increased scrutiny on overall recruitment strategies and squad composition as the season progresses.