Celtic Crisis Deepens After Chris Sutton’s Tactical Blast: Can O’Neill Save The Title?

Celtic Crisis Deepens After Chris Sutton’s Tactical Blast: Can O’Neill Save The Title? Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has delivered an assessment of the club, calling the situation “as broken as I can remember” after a spell before the international break. The champions suffered defeats against Rangers , including a 1-0 league loss at Celtic Park, while a 3-1 Europa League defeat by Ferencvaros made it three losses in succession. Despite that run, Celtic remain top of the Scottish Premiership, two points clear of Rangers . Sutton believes the problems stretch beyond results. He pointed to the dispute between fans and shareholder Dermot Desmond, which reached a point at St Andrews last weekend. During the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, protesters threw tennis balls carrying images of Desmond towards the green. Security then escorted the 76-year-old shareholder away. Celtic condemned the incident and said it would no longer engage with the Celtic Fans Collective. Why Sutton says Celtic is broken For Sutton, that confrontation reflects a breakdown. He said the split between Desmond and fans looks worse than last season, while criticism from inside the dressing room has added another layer to the crisis. Cameron Carter-Vickers supplied the example after the Rangers defeat. The defender admitted Celtic had played “too random” and said the players needed to get a script and stick to it. Sutton believes those comments placed further pressure on Martin O’Neill. The manager created uncertainty after admitting he needed time to consider his future. However, O’Neill has since made clear that he wants to continue in the job, giving Celtic clarity before the return to league action. Sutton said: “You’ve got players calling out the tactics publicly. You’ve got a manager, and I love Martin, but the last thing I heard from him was that he wasn’t quite sure if he wanted to carry on. “I’m concerned about [O’Neill’s] comments because it just leaves everything up in the air.” Despite his concerns, Sutton believes O’Neill will stay in charge and praised his character. “I think he’ll carry on,” he said. “He’s a warrior and last season, what he achieved, I think people have forgotten that. What I don’t like is the whole atmosphere at Celtic. “With all the mud being chucked around, I don’t necessarily think he deserves it.” Can Martin O’Neill restore Celtic’s control? GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Celtic manager Martin O’Neill looks on during the William Hill Premiership 2026/27 match between Celtic and Glasgow Rangers at Celtic Park on September 20, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) Manager retains goodwill after guiding the club to last season’s Premiership title and domestic double. Sutton called him a warrior and argued that the 74-year-old does not deserve the hostility surrounding him. Yet results alone won’t repair this. O’Neill needs a tactical plan, while the board must give supporters communication and show unity around the manager. Carter-Vickers’ remarks exposed confusion on the pitch, but they should prompt a response rather than another argument. The transfer concerns matter too. Celtic brought in several players, and Carter-Vickers blamed unfamiliarity within the squad for confusion. That places responsibility on recruitment and coaching alike. The next league match against Motherwell therefore carries more than three points. Celtic need a performance, structure and a calmer dressing room. Otherwise, Sutton’s description of a broken club will keep gaining importance.