Martin O’Neill questions bizarre Brendan Rodgers Celtic comments

Originally posted on The Celtic Star | Last updated Oct 20, 2025 6:09 PM ET

Former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has called out Brendan Rodgers’ Honda Civic comments after the defeat to Dundee. The Scottish Champions were beaten 2-0 by Steven Pressley’s side at Dens Park, which prompted the comment about the squad.

Speaking to White and Jordan on Talksport on Monday, O’Neill questioned the wisdom of Rodgers making the comment, which could result in friction with the Celtic Board.

“That’s a big statement for Brendan to make there. I have said a thousand of times, I have made a lot of statements in my time, and I have come to regret loads of them. Probably all of them.

“But I don’t think you should be saying that, at this minute. I am not one to be giving advice to managers and that.

“I have got an owner here (Simon Jordan), who has had managers he has liked and some he hasn’t liked, and I don’t think, and I am not going to speak for Simon, he might totally disagree.

“But if a manager is making that comment, you feel as if it’s directed at you. And you haven’t given him the tools to go and do what he is to do.

“Now, we all feel like this as managers, and owners feel differently. They feel as if, ‘yeah, I have given them and he hasn’t blinking well done the job.’”

It has been clear that Rodgers is not happy with the club’s transfer dealings but the Irishman requires to get a tune out of these players. The manager has hinted at a change in formation, which will hopefully result in an uplift in performance levels.

O’Neill was pressed on why he believes Rodgers used that comparison, especially given how poorly it has been received on social media. It remains to be seen whether the players will respond positively to the comments or not.

“I don’t know why he said that, in all honesty. He will have his reasons for it.

“You just wouldn’t do that. This is a comment totally directed at the board for not supporting him. You wouldn’t do it. You wouldn’t publicly say this because it doesn’t go down well.

“Remarkably, believe it or not, after a while, it doesn’t go down well with the supporters.”

Supporters appear to be taking the view that the Celtic Board have not done enough in the transfer window but that the manager should be getting more out of the players at his disposal. With that said, he spent months telling the club what was required to no avail.

This article first appeared on The Celtic Star and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: