Celtic manager Martin O’Neill disclosed that an unexpected overnight issue prevented winger Haissem Hassan from getting adequate rest, forcing a late change in plans that kept the player out of the starting lineup for the 3-0 Premier Sports Cup defeat against rivals Rangers at Ibrox.
Hassan was a notable omission when the team sheets were initially released, finding himself among the substitutes rather than featuring in the opening whistle. O’Neill ultimately turned to the winger in the second half, bringing him off the bench to try and alter the course of the match. However, the pre-match disruption meant starting him was out of the question.
Addressing reporters after the heavy defeat and Celtic’s subsequent exit from the tournament, O’Neill shed light on the selection puzzle.
”Young Hassan had an overnight problem,” O’Neill said when pressed on his starting XI. “And he didn’t get much sleep in all honesty, so it was just a matter of not starting him because of that. That’s the reason, really.”
The absence of a fully rested Hassan added to a difficult afternoon for Celtic away from home, as the team struggled to find their footing in the high-stakes cup tie.