GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Celtic manager Martin O'Neill (L) during a Premier Sports Cup Quarter-Final match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium, on September 13, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill has explained two of his debatable team selections at Ibrox today.
The Celtic boss made four changes to the side that beat St Johnstone 1-0 on Wednesday.
For the main part those changes were understandable.
What puzzled fans was the decisions to retain Sam Johnstone and Sebastian Tounekti.
The on-loan goalkeeper was playing just his second match for the Celtic since his deadline day move.
Johnstone had one outstanding save in midweek against St Johnstone but Ibrox is a unique and demanding environment for any Celtic player.
Vil Sinisalo has played at Ibrox three times but watched today’s match unfold from the sidelines.
Tounekti has been understudy to Yang Hyun-jun on the left wing all season. He did little to impress against St Johnstone but started at Ibrox with Haissem Hassan on the bench.
Hassan replaced Tounekti at the break. Although largely blameless for the goals lost Johnstone looked nervous from his first touches of the ball.
QUESTION: Martin, Sam Johnstone wasn’t the only Celtic player that found it difficult today but why did you opt for him ?
O’NEILL:
I want people to experience these games, because what other way am I going to learn about what people can or cannot do? What I don’t want to do is just put people in so that I can learn something from it.
The main object is obviously to try and win, and it’s a fine balancing act from me.
QUESTION: What was behind the decision to start with Sebastian Tounekti on the left? What was your thinking there?
O’NEILL:
Young Hassan had an overnight problem, and he didn’t get much sleep in all honesty, so it was just a matter of not starting him because of that. That’s the reason, really.
O’NEILL HAS TO TURN THINGS QUICKLY
O’Neill has a re-match next Sunday to get things right with the benefit of Celtic fans only.
Before that he has a Europa League tie at home to Ferencvaros to tackle.
With some obvious weaknesses in the squad O’Neill has his work cut out to lift the players from today’s defeat.
Celtic are short on physical midfielders, an issue made worse by the sale of Arne Engels and the failure to recruit a similar type of replacement.
On the wings Hassan is the only winger that carries a genuine threat.
Tounekti constantly turned back while in possession while Camilo Duran looked uncomfortable out wide.
Shim Mheuka and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, substitutes today aren’t available for the match against Ferencvaros.
Engels doesn’t stop the LASK debacle. He doesn’t stop this one either. He was as culpable as anyone in our powder?puff midfield. We were lucky to recoup what we got for him.
But that doesn’t address the structural issues that have existed throughout the banter years. This complacency has hurt us and will be our undoing if we don’t buck our ideas pronto. I rated Scales as our best player today — others say Donovan. That says it all.
Editor: Recoup? We doubled our money. Unlike with Holm, Kwon and all the other club signings brought in by Mark Lawwell and Paul Tisdale. Tilio, Palma, Balikwisha and Tounekti plus many many more.
Martin’s first statement don’t make sense.
The second one he should’ve played forrest instead of turnbaki.
Nygren is a lazy bstrd