O'Neill says he is in 'full agreement' with McGregor over Celtic issues
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill said he was in "full agreement" with captain Callum McGregor's assessment of the club's problems, comments McGregor made after Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Dundee United; O'Neill made the remark when asked before Sunday's match with Falkirk.
McGregor, 33, described parts of recent matches as being "a bit basketball" and said the team lacked their usual control. He also suggested playing recognised strikers such as Callum Osmand and Camilo Duran out wide might be contributing to the difficulties amid a run of three wins in nine games.
When first asked about McGregor's remarks before the Falkirk game, O'Neill said he had "no idea" what McGregor said, but after the context was provided he voiced agreement and spoke about the roles of the forwards. "I totally agree that Callum Osmand is actually really a centre forward, I've said this at the press conference, that he is essentially a centre forward," O'Neill said. "He probably would play off somebody strong alongside him, I'm not so sure that he could lead the line on his own."
O'Neill added: "And that Camilo Duran is really a centre forward, so the players are getting to know each other, it's as really simple as that there, so I'm in total agreement with Callum."
Celtic still hold a four-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership, and will extend that to seven if they beat Falkirk on Sunday, with Rangers in League Cup action.
The defending champions have lost only once in the league, at home to Rangers, but have suffered three Europa League defeats from three amid fan discontent and a boycott of some games by the Green Brigade fans group. McGregor is not the first senior player to voice concerns about control in matches; defender Cameron Carter-Vickers said after their Glasgow derby loss that the team were "too random" in their play.
O'Neill said the group would improve as players integrated over the winter and stressed the circumstances behind the current form, noting that "A lot of lads here didn't even do pre-season with us. A number of players came in quite late on, so it will take time for us." He added: "I come in here [to the press conference] every single week and I'm most of the time pretty buoyed by things," and warned: "Don't try and throw a lot of divides in at the end of the day, we're doing fine." He concluded: "So we need to hang in there, and at this minute I think we're hanging in."
A win over Falkirk on Sunday would move Celtic seven points clear at the top of the Premiership; Rangers will be occupied with League Cup duty.
