Current campaign a wake-up call for Celtic – Martin O’Neill

The Scottish champions have spent much of the last two decades at the summit of the domestic game, winning Double after Double and Treble after Treble. However, the Hoops now face the serious possibility of finishing the season without silverware.

O’Neill’s side currently sit five points behind Hearts in the title race and must also prepare for a crucial Scottish Cup quarter-final clash at Ibrox this afternoon.

The board have faced heavy criticism from supporters following a turbulent year on and off the pitch. However, O’Neill has suggested that supporters may also need to adjust expectations after enjoying a prolonged spell of domestic success.

He said via Daily Record: “I think the overall picture is that it should be a wake-up call for the football club, really. You could say that in recent years the fans have maybe been spoiled. No real challenges in many aspects.”

“Being able to coast home in the last six or seven games of the season, which is great because you’ve done that, but the challenge has not been strong. Here it is. Hearts have arrived on the spot maybe a few years before they thought they would do.”

“Rangers have come strongly and spent some money getting good players in at the football club. So it’s important for us now. It’s been a challenge all season.”

The Celtic boss added: “You can’t take things for granted. You have to fight every single season for something. And while we’ve had a glorious period for quite a number of years, I think that the challenge that has come up this season, I might be wrong about this, but it might have surprised us in that sense.”

“Maybe thinking Hearts weren’t (going to challenge) maybe thinking (the same about) Rangers. From a distance, I didn’t think that Rangers were all that great. But what their squad together now is by Scottish standards, it’s not been cheap. They’ve spent a few pounds and probably had to improve their team.”

“I think for us it’s been a spoiled period for quite a number of years. You can’t treat it lightly. And I think it’s been a great thing for Scottish football. But for us as a football club, people are asking about trophies.”

“To me, this season, we’re a long way off trophies. Could have won one, yeah, absolutely. But in terms of now, I don’t even consider that.”

Conor Spence