Martin O Neill, manager of Celtic look on Celtic v Dundee United, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 28 October 2026. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO Shutterstock
The Celtic manager has no issues with Callum McGregor's remarks about Celtic playing like a basketball team because he agrees with what was said and has vowed to sort it out.
Callum McGregor was critical of players playing out of position with two centre forwards starting as wingers on Wednesday night but essentially still playing like centre-forwards, and in doing so damaging the structure of the team.
Camilo Duran of Celtic celebrates scoring Celtic v Dundee United, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 28 October 2026. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO Shutterstock
While Celtic remain four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership and can increase that to seven points this weekend with a win at Falkirk, the recent form especially in European football across the Champions League playoff defeat to LASK and the three subsequent Europa League losses to Ferencvaros, Benfica and Celta Vigo have set the alarm bells ringing amongst the support. Two Glasgow Derby defeats to the Rangers cannot be ignored either.
Liam Scales of Celtic reacts after scoring. Celtic v Dundee United, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 28 October 2026. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO Shutterstock
"I totally agree (with Calmac) the Celtic manager explained at today's mainstream media conference ahead of Sunday's trip to Falkirk. "Osmand is actually a centre forward, I've said this before. He is essentially a centre forward that would probably play off of somebody strong alongside him. I'm not so sure that he could lead the line on his own.
"Duran is also a centre forward. So, the players are getting to know each other and it's really as simple as that there. I'm in total agreement with Callum," Martin said.
He added: "We'll sort it out. We seem to be doing okay domestically, trying to sort it out. Players are playing. There's a few players that haven't had a chance. Lotomba hasn't had a chance yet to play but there will be moments, absolutely, for people in the squad.
13th September 2026; Ibrox, Scottish League Cup Football, Rangers versus Celtic; Joel van den Berg of Celtic. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou
"Young van den Berg again, has just trained today. So over the course of the next number of weeks between now and Christmas, I think everybody will be on the field of play.
"Then it's a matter of establishing the right positions as much as possible. Players have played out of position before. I don't know if it was a big issue when young Osmand came on in the Benfica game and set us alight.
"I come in here every single week and most of the time I'm pretty buoyed by things. Don't try and throw a lot of divides in at the end of the day. We're doing fine."
Callum Osmand of Celtic celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on October 18, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Nothing to worry about the, although to many supporters that sounds like we're going to continue with the same policy until Christmas time then we'll get to the stage where the left wingers play on he left wing, right wingers on the right hand side of the Celtic attack and centre-forwards playing through the middle.
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