# Celtic manager O'Neill stays cool after 7-1 win over Hearts

> Celtic's 7-1 thrashing of Hearts leaves O'Neill dismissive of 'statement' win claims.
- Title: Celtic manager O'Neill stays cool after 7-1 win over Hearts
- Summary: Celtic's 7-1 thrashing of Hearts leaves O'Neill dismissive of 'statement' win claims. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill downplays his side's 7-1 victory over…
- Keywords: celtic, hearts, michael o'neill, scottish premier league, scottish football, celta vigo, europa league, celtic manager, sports, manager, O'Neill, stays
- Source: BBC Sport — https://bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cw0k0zn0lkjgo
- Published: 2026-10-18T20:50:09.27+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: celtic, hearts, michael o'neill, scottish premier league, scottish football, celta vigo, europa league, celtic manager, sports
## Celtic's current position
Celtic sit four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a goal difference 12 better than Rangers.
## Recent win over Hearts
Celtic delivered a 7-1 demolition of Hearts, last season's runners-up.
## O'Neill's reaction
O'Neill dismissed the win as a 'statement' victory, saying it was 'not really sure' about that.

> I'm not really sure about that
## O'Neill's performance analysis
O'Neill praised the team's attacking performance and defensive solidity despite Hearts' strong challenge.
## Expert opinions
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd called it a throwback to Ange Postecoglou's style of play.

> That is the closest I've seen to Ange Postecoglou's Celtic
## Hearts' performance
Former Hearts defender Ryan McGowan described Hearts' performance as 'really poor' and Celtic's as their best of the season.

> It's a really poor performance from Hearts
## Young players shine
Young Callum Osmand and Colby Donovan stood out in Celtic's performance with strong attacking contributions.
## Upcoming Europa League fixture
Celtic face Celta Vigo in a must-win Europa League match to gain momentum before January.
## Key takeaway

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill downplays his side's 7-1 victory over Hearts as a 'statement' win, emphasizing the team's early-season performance and upcoming challenges.