Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has warned that the Scottish champions face a difficult title defense, as domestic rivals close the gap.
He spoke in his first interview since signing a one-year permanent contract on June 27, 2026.
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O'Neill secured a league and Scottish Cup double last season during his second interim spell. He then locked in his permanent position on June 11.
“I think Rangers will get stronger, and Hearts won't go down without a fight, there's no question about that,” O'Neill said.
The veteran manager expressed concerns over shifting dynamics in the Scottish Premiership.
“I felt every single time that we played matches the teams were getting closer to Celtic than perhaps ever before, certainly in recent times, so those are concerns.”
Staff Stability and Reflection
O'Neill finalized his backroom staff, including Fotheringham and Maloney, as players reported for pre-season training. The appointments filled a vacancy left by Gavin Strachan.
“I thought that was very important,” O'Neill said.
“We gel together as much as anything else and, because the end result was that we won, then you start to feel that it was half decent.
So it's nice to have the staff back.”
Reflecting on last season's dramatic conclusion, O'Neill admitted the achievement has not fully sunk in.
“If I'd no longer been at the football club, I think I would have more time to digest it and say, oh that was really great, surreal.”
