# O'Neill weighs future as Celtic stumbles

> Martin O'Neill considers his position after back-to-back Rangers defeats, but Paul Lambert says sacking him would be wrong.
- Title: O'Neill weighs future as Celtic stumbles · BBC Sport
- Summary: Martin O'Neill considers his position after back-to-back Rangers defeats, but Paul Lambert says sacking him would be wrong. O'Neill is reflecting on Celtic's…
- Keywords: martin o'neill, celtic, paul lambert, rangers, scottish premiership, manager future, old firm, europa league, champions league, sports, O'Neill, weighs
- Source: BBC Sport — https://bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c3j4jpzy08p5o
- Published: 2026-09-21T13:55:16.245+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: martin o'neill, celtic, paul lambert, rangers, scottish premiership, manager future, old firm, europa league, champions league, sports
## O'Neill ponders his Celtic future
After back-to-back defeats to Rangers, the 74-year-old manager said he will use the international break to reflect on whether he can turn things around.

> I think there's every reason to ask 'can you turn this round?'
## Recent defeats pile on the pressure
Celtic lost twice to Rangers around a home loss to Ferencvaros in the Europa League, following a Champions League collapse to LASK in August when they surrendered a 4-0 aggregate lead.
## Lambert backs O'Neill strongly
The former Celtic captain and manager said he would be shocked and disappointed if Celtic sacked O'Neill, and wouldn't be surprised if O'Neill chose to leave himself.

> I'd be shocked and disappointed if Celtic sacked him.
## O'Neill's rescue act last season
Lambert praised O'Neill for steadying Celtic after Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy departed, delivering a league and Scottish Cup double through two interim spells before being made permanent manager.

> There was only one person who could rescue Celtic last season and he did that.
## Players must take responsibility
Lambert criticized individual performances in the Rangers defeats and called out defender Cameron Carter-Vickers for suggesting the team needed better instructions rather than solving problems themselves.

> The players need to take responsibility.
## Key takeaway

O'Neill is reflecting on Celtic's recent losses and may leave on his own terms, but Lambert believes the club should back him given his rescue of the team last season.