Celtic manager Martin O'Neill says decision to stay at Scottish Premiership champions 'didn't take long'

Martin O'Neill said it would have been "poor" to walk out on Celtic as he explained it "did not take long" for him to rediscover his drive to lead the team following a brief period of uncertainty about his future.

In a downbeat post-match interview following the 1-0 defeat at home to Rangers in the last game prior to the international break, the 74-year-old said: "It's not the first time I've been questioned about my managerial time. I'll have a look at it. I will reflect and see."

After O'Neill confirmed this week he was remaining as manager, he expanded on his decision to stay in Friday's press conference ahead of Sunday's trip to Motherwell, live on Sky Sports.

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"It didn't take that long in all honesty," he said. "There was an international break. It gives you time to reflect.

"I was obviously disappointed with the week we had. There's a long season ahead and it didn't take me long to make my mind up to continue, as long as the club wanted me and I was happy to do it.

"Leaving at this particular stage would have been poor. Had there been no international break, I probably wouldn't even have said what I said."

Despite losing their last three games in all competitions before the break, Celtic remain two points clear of Rangers at the top of the Premiership.

"The main driver is to try and win the league again, that's really it," O'Neill said. "My two spells last year in charge for 23 league games, we were able to pull it off. I know it's in the past but because it's in the recent past, it gives you that spur to want to go and do it.

"We've a full season ahead, remarkably. It sounds hard to believe but we're actually still in front in the league at this minute. I was reminded, until Rangers beat us in the league, we had won the previous 13 games in the league.

"I have belief in the team and I think our focus should be to try and win the league."

O'Neill revealed Jota, who has been sidelined for almost 18 months with a cruciate ligament injury, has "every possibility" of being in the squad on Sunday after "training with us now for some considerable time" and then playing in a friendly against Falkirk.

Chelsea left-back Landon Emenalo, who agreed a loan move to Celtic at the end of the summer transfer window, will belatedly join up with the Hoops squad after recovering from injury. "I think with a little bit of luck he's coming up tomorrow and he'll start with us next week," said O'Neill.

O'Neill: Rift between club and supporters 'really sad'

O'Neill also expressed sadness over the widening rift between Celtic supporters and club after the Green Brigade announced a boycott of upcoming Scottish Cup and Europa League matches.

The ultras group released a statement on Friday hitting out at the "naked contempt" they feel the board have for them after being irked that "the conduct of the Green Brigade" was alluded to in a club statement condemning the tennis-ball protest against major shareholder Dermot Desmond at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews last weekend.

"Under the influence of Dermot Desmond, a dark cloud lingers over our club creating an increasingly unsustainable environment," read a lengthy post from the Green Brigade.

"The board's latest irrational statement at the behest of Desmond represents another attack on supporters.

"It explicitly attaches our group to an action which we are not responsible for, although we commend those who are.

"It is further demonstration, if needed, of the utter disdain they have for our group. It is clear notice of another ban, be that imminently or for another manufactured incident like times before."

Outlining their intention to stay away from certain matches, the statement continued: "Achieving meaningful change requires some level of sacrifice.

"We will not attend the remaining Europa League home ties nor any Scottish Cup tie at home, away or at Hampden. We will review this position at the end of the season or earlier should adequate progress be made."

Former striker Chris Sutton said earlier this week that "Celtic at this moment in time is a bit of a cesspit".

O'Neill, who helped the Hoops navigate a turbulent season to win the double last season, said: "I came into the situation this time last year and it seems to be going back to that again. I don't agree at all with what happened up at St Andrews."

Reacting to the Green Brigade's boycott, O'Neill said: "I think it's a really sad situation if that's the case. It is sad but we went through it last season.

"What I will say is that when the club came together, I can remember the days of having 80,000 people in Seville without an arrest. That's Celtic to me.

"But at the end of it all, it is a sad situation. All I do know is that when the club were together towards the end of the season, I genuinely felt we were unbeatable.

"We have to try and win some football matches maybe to get some togetherness here."

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Celtic manager Martin O'Neill says decision to stay at Scottish Premiership champions 'didn't take long'