Celtic secure Scottish Premiership title after Martin O’Neill revival
Celtic have secured the Scottish Premiership title after winning seven consecutive matches under manager Martin O’Neill to overhaul Hearts at the top of the table.
The Glasgow club completed a remarkable turnaround following a bleak 2-0 defeat to Dundee United in March.
That loss had left them trailing Hearts by five points and placed them two points behind fierce rivals Rangers.
However, their veteran manager remained defiant and demanded a flawless finish to the campaign.
Following the defeat at Tannadice, the former Leicester City boss acknowledged the difficulty of his monumental task.
“We disappointed an awful lot of people today. It’s been difficult since I’ve set foot in the place. This is a blow but we’re not finished yet.”
A relentless title charge
The Northern Irishman asked his squad for seven consecutive victories on the run-in, and they delivered exactly that.
Securing 21 points from a possible 21, the Hoops hunted down a consistent Hearts side to claim the championship.
This doggedness was notably absent during the preceding tenures of Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy.
Despite walking into a chaotic environment, the returning boss won 19 of his 23 league fixtures.
Underlying concerns remain
While they are worthy champions who triumphed on spirit rather than pure class, deep analysis is required by the club’s board.
The Scottish giants won the league with 82 points, representing a significant drop from previous seasons and 17 fewer than three years ago.
Their attacking output has also plummeted, with the 73 goals scored representing their lowest league tally in 19 years.
This decline highlights a failure to adequately replace star striker Kyogo Furuhashi, who departed over a year ago.
Defensive fragility exposed
Although Japanese forward Daizen Maeda found crucial form late in the campaign, defensive vulnerabilities persisted across the pitch.
The champions conceded 41 league goals this term, marking their highest total allowed in 33 years.
The hierarchy at Celtic Park must now confront these stark statistics rather than simply masking a season of discontent with silverware.
