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Martin O'Neill bemused by 'extraordinary' Danny Rohl remarks about Celtic team selection ahead of Old Firm derby

Celtic coach Martin O'Neill looks on prior to the start of the UEFA Europa League knockout round playoff second leg football match VfB Stuttgart v Celtic in Stuttgart, southern Germany, on February 26, 2026.
The former Republic of Ireland manager did not welcome the input from his Rangers counterpart

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill found it "absolutely extraordinary" that Rangers counterpart Danny Rohl was commenting on his team selection ahead of their trip to Ibrox.

The Gers head coach remarked it would be interesting to see who O’Neill picked in goal for the Scottish Premiership clash.

Viljami Sinisalo impressed in Celtic's 1-0 Europa League win in Stuttgart on Thursday after replacing Kasper Schmeichel, who let in two soft goals during a 4-1 first-leg defeat.

O’Neill was told of Rohl’s comments at his pre-match media conference, which came soon after he arrived back in Glasgow.

The Celtic boss said: "So he’s picking our team? Well done, old Danny, well done. He’s only in less than a year himself. He’ll soon know all about it in the next four or five years.

"I must sit down here and see if I can find out…. maybe he might have a choice of some players and maybe I could put my oar in there and find out what he’s doing.

"Listen, sorry, I have to laugh. He’s had a comment about our team, as in the picking of the team? Extraordinary. Absolutely extraordinary. He hasn’t been in Glasgow long."

The German also revealed his "surprise" that Celtic did not try to beat Stuttgart 3-0, claiming they were happy to stick to 1-0.

"He wants to be involved in some of these games," O’Neill responded.

"I never saw it like that. I mean, we were driven back, because they are actually a very, very good team. They’re in the top four in the Bundesliga. So I’m surprised he made a comment like that."

Rohl had himself been asked for his reaction to comments from Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan, who claimed: "We know if we’re at it no team in that league touches us".

Sheffield Wednesday Manager Danny Rohl is present during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Portsmouth at Hillsborough in Sheffield, England, on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Scott Llewellyn | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Danny Rohl's Rangers will meet Celtic in both the league and cup between now and 8 March

The former Sheffield Wednesday manager pointed out his side were second in the league, ahead of Celtic, who had suffered "seven or eight defeats".

"There’s no need for him to be commenting on my team or our side," O’Neill said.

"I think he possesses a very, very decent team over there, and it’s going to be tough for us to try and get a result. But regardless, we’re still fighting."

Celtic could go into Sunday’s game nine points adrift of leaders Hearts, but will have two matches in hand.

O’Neill said: "We’re running out of games. We’ve been trying to catch up for quite some considerable time. We’re still trying to do that at the moment.

"Losing to Hibs was a setback, but it wasn’t mortal. We’re still there. I think we’ve taken 31 from 36 points (in two spells under O’Neill)."

O’Neill feels the reaction to consecutive defeats against Stuttgart and Hibernian was over the top.

"I think that’s been the case," the 73-year-old said. "It’s been the case since I managed here way back 20-25 years ago. It’s always been the same.

"It always seems to be Celtic. It never seems to be anybody else’s football club.

"I remember once that we won the league, I think we won the league and the cup way back one year. We went back in pre-season and lost two pre-season games and the headlines were 'Celtic in crisis’.

"We lost two pre-season games. It was brilliant. So nothing has changed. And do you know what? In many aspects, delightfully so.

"I think there’s something really nice about that."

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