Celtic manager Martin O’Neill came to the defence of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel after he was booed by his own fans during a 4-1 defeat by Stuttgart. The 39-year-old was slow to react to the first goal of a Bilal El Khannouss double and made a poor attempt to stop a low drive from Jamie Leweling, which made it 3-1.
O’Neill acknowledged his team’s poor performance, admitting they conceded “really poor goals”. He emphasized the importance of team unity, saying, “This is a team game and we all have to deal with it.” He drew attention to Schmeichel’s past heroics, referencing a crucial save against Feyenoord, and praised his experience, saying, “Kasper Schmeichel has done exceptionally well for me in my time here.”
When asked about the possibility of Viljami Sinisalo getting a chance, O’Neill was non-committal, saying, “Who knows what might happen at the end of it all?” He highlighted Schmeichel’s ability to bounce back from tough times, saying, “He’s had some dips in his time, and he’s come right back.”
O’Neill was critical of fans who threw mini balls onto the pitch, disrupting the game. He called it a “daft” move that didn’t help the team, saying, “Anybody who thinks that’s a good idea needs their heads examining.” He recalled a time when Celtic’s atmosphere intimidated opponents like Juventus, and expressed disappointment that the protest had spoiled the atmosphere.
Celtic’s focus is now on their upcoming match against Hibernian, with the trip to Germany against Stuttgart looking like a distraction from their domestic battles. The team also faces two trips to Ibrox in successive Sundays. O’Neill was adamant that their focus wouldn’t be swayed, saying, “Our focus is Sunday now. Sunday is most important for us.”