O'Neill backs McGregor's diagnosis of Celtic's loss of control
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill says he agrees with captain Callum McGregor that the team are playing "a bit basketball" and that strikers are being used out wide, but insists the issues will be resolved.
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has backed captain Callum McGregor's assessment of the team's recent problems, saying he is in "full agreement" with the midfielder's diagnosis and that the squad will "sort it out". McGregor spoke after Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Dundee United, when he said some passages of play had become "a bit basketball" because Celtic were lacking their usual control.
McGregor also suggested that deploying centre forwards Callum Osmand and Camilo Duran as wingers may be contributing to the side's difficulties during a run of three wins in nine games. O'Neill initially said he had "no idea" what his captain had said, but once the context was explained he agreed, noting that Osmand is essentially a centre forward who would probably benefit from playing alongside a strong partner rather than leading the line alone, and that Duran is also really a centre forward. O'Neill put the situation down to players still getting to know each other's games.
McGregor is not the first senior figure to highlight the lack of control. Defender Cameron Carter-Vickers said after the Glasgow derby defeat that the team were "too random" in their play. The draw with Dundee United came amid a wider run of fan discontent, with the Green Brigade supporters group boycotting some matches, and Celtic have lost all three of their Europa League games so far.
Domestically, however, Celtic remain four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership ahead of Sunday's match with Falkirk, where a win would stretch the advantage to seven with Rangers in League Cup action. Their only league defeat this season came at home to Rangers.
O'Neill said he remains encouraged by what he sees and rejected suggestions of deep divisions, stressing that a number of players arrived late or missed pre-season, so improvement will take time over the winter. He added that the team need to hang in there, and that he believes they are doing so, while doing enough in the league in the meantime.
Image: SNS / BBC Sport
