Celtic’s fragility was compounded by Martin O’Neill’s frail defence of his position yesterday – the signs ahead are ominous…

Eric Knott criticizes Celtic manager Martin O'Neill following a recent media interview, arguing that his defense of the team's form was unconvincing. Although Celtic currently sits atop the league with six wins from seven matches, Knott highlights that the team's defensive vulnerability and three consecutive defeats before the international break signal significant underlying trouble ahead of upcoming fixtures against clubs like Motherwell.

The writer argues that underlying statistics demonstrate this fragility, noting Celtic has faced 79 shots compared to 41 at the same stage last season. Furthermore, Knott questions O'Neill's optimism regarding winger Felipe Jota, asserting that expecting a decisive impact from a player returning from an 18-month ACL injury reflects a lack of strategic planning.