Martin O’Neill reckons a three-way title race could be the norm from this season onwards after the improvements at both Hearts and the Rangers and Celtic about to go through a major summer rebuild…
The Celtic boss spoke to the media ahead of this afternoon’s Scottish Cup quarter-final trip to Ibrox for the second Glasgow Derby in a week. It is a break from league duties for the Scottish champions who currently sit five points behind Hearts with nine games to play.
After Ibrox, O’Neill’s men will face Motherwell with a chance to go two behind the Jambos who play later that night. But, reflecting on this season, the 74 year-old reckons this three way battle could be the start of the norm in Scottish football.
Motherwell yesterday missed their chance to move within one point of the Rangers and two of Celtic in second place after losing their game in hand 2-1 against Dundee yesterday afternoon.
Callum McGregor celebrates. Aberdeen v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Wednesday 4th March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou
The Celtic manager said via Daily Record: “Absolutely. But that should excite you really as much as anything else. To know that there’s proper challenges coming in now and that you’ve got to be on your toes.”
“You have to be vigilant. You have to be alert, ready for all challenges coming in. This is just not another doddle through the season. It never is really in many aspects. But I’m talking sometimes from a supporting viewpoint.”
“If teams drop away, then it feels as if you’ve won the league and they can’t [win it]. It’s never like that. No manager, Brendan wouldn’t have thought that Ange wouldn’t have thought the same thing.”
“But when you start to get on a run and then you find that the opposition are dropping away quickly, then it feels as if it’s easy [for fans].”
Martin O’Neill, Interim Manager of Celtic acknowledges the fans following his team’s draw in the Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox on March 01, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
O’Neill added: “I don’t think I’m saying something that we don’t all think. Please just accept that this is not a clarion call. I think in the summer we’ll have to have a look at the whole situation and see that we’re ready for whatever it’s going to be.”
“If you want to be the dominant force here, which they have been for quite a number of years. Now, there’s challenges coming, which I think is a really good thing for the league. Celtic have to be ready for those.”
Conor Spence
Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order
