Martin O’Neill has confirmed that he has no plans to step down as Celtic manager despite using the extended international break to reflect on his future.
In the aftermath of Celtic’s 1-0 defeat to Rangers at Celtic Park, O’Neill admitted he planned to enter a period of self-reflection as he considered his future as Celtic boss.
Before the international break, Celtic had suffered three consecutive defeats as pressure began to mount on the 74-year-old.
A 3-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox saw Celtic exit the Premier Sports Cup at the quarter-final stage before opening their Europa League campaign with a 3-1 loss to Hungarian side Ferencváros at Celtic Park.
Going into the international break, more misery was piled onto Celtic as they endured back-to-back Old Firm defeats. Ryan Naderi’s first half strike was the difference between the sides, cutting Celtic’s lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table to just two points.
O’Neill had two interim spells with Celtic last season, leading his side to a domestic double following a dramatic end to the season before agreeing a one-year contract with the option of a further year.
The 74-year-old has expressed his desire to win the league with Celtic again and believes he is the right man to take club forward.
O’Neill said: “We had a difficult week. You can lose to your arch-rivals, you can lose a European game; it’s certainly not the end of the world or what it seemed to be described as, but I’m ready to go.
“Yes, I did think I would take a little bit of time, and it didn’t take me that much time to think about it.
“I want to try and win the league and I’m just as determined now as ever before. Overall, I’m back and ready to go and the team’s ready.”
Celtic will return to Premiership action on Sunday at 12:00, as they travel to Fir Park to face Alfred Johansson’s Motherwell.
