The former Hoops hero sat down for the latest edition of the Record Sport Celtic podcast and the ex striker pulled no punches following Sunday’s defeat to Dundee United

16:51, 23 Mar 2026Updated 19:50, 23 Mar 2026

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Chris Sutton says Martin O’Neill knows Celtic can be c**p and is adamant the boss “isn’t having” the club’s January attacking signings.

In a seismic assessment, the former Parkhead hitman also accused Kelechi Iheanacho of being lazy and says his old club have absolutely no chance in the title race.

Sutton has been left bewildered at the situation which O’Neill has left in with a toiling squad and says the boss is taking a sofly-softly approach just to maintain harmony.

Celtic suffered a miserable 2-0 weekend loss to Dundee United and the Record Sport columnist said: “He [O’Neill] is doing his best to get by, but he realised it was coming.

“I heard him talk before the game and, because of the recent performances, he was never getting carried away about we’ve got momentum now and this real belief.

“It’s the complete opposite of that and why is it like that? Because he knows the team is c**p at times and that’s the problem.

“I just look at the way that Martin has handled things. I think he’s certainly different from his spell when I was there. The [Kasper] Schmeichel thing, he was quite softly, softly with that. I can’t imagine him being softly, softly with that 25 years ago.

“Even with the players coming in in January because I think he realises how delicate the situation is at the club.

Chris Sutton

“I think he realises that he has a fragile dressing room, so his game is trying to keep everybody on side, trying to keep that harmony, trying to talk the signings up in January when, I’m telling you, he’s not having those signings. I’m telling you.

“But that’s the path he’s gone down and I do understand that because, really, when you look at things, what’s his alternative?

“The centre forward situation is an absolute shambles. How can the club be in a position where they are, this is part-time stuff. It really is. It’s absolutely amateur hour and I think you can see the frustration in Martin’s face. I saw online he was getting criticism about the starting line-up at the weekend. I would love these people who are criticising to try and pick a Celtic team at this moment in time.

“Celtic are desperate, they’re playing like a desperate team and with every selection, every weekend, I bet Martin is just scratching his head, like we all would be. Do I think Celtic will win the league? No. Absolutely not.”

Sutton’s pointed particularly to the forwards situation, with previous window recruits such as Junior Adamu and Joel Mvuka having little impact.

He continued: “That position has been a problem area all season. This is where I do feel for Martin in the fact that he’s watching these players train every day and it’s literally like a lucky dip who is going to play centre-forward week in and week out.

“The fact he has made changes in recent times after 45 minutes just shows you what a mess, what a muddle Celtic are in and that’s not ideal. It was a shock to me Iheanacho starting [against United]. I’ve seen a lot of stuff online, people saying, well, he’s our best striker, but I still think he’s miles off it.

“He does some good things in terms of his link-up is okay, but I think there were times in the first half where he was just downright lazy and didn’t work hard enough when balls were being played forward to actually get in a position where he could even be challenging for a ball and a knockdown.

“Maybe fatigue had something to do with that, but it’s been the story of Celtic season in the final third.

“Iheanacho’s game, and he’s good at it, holding the ball, but then you still need players who are going to run in behind, get up in touch.

“[Tomas] Cvancara, I don’t quite know what he is yet. He seems to be a little bit of everything. Adamu, I watched his finishing before the game and you’re thinking, really? Do you want a big chance to fall to him? Johnny Kenny this season hasn’t worked out.

“We all know what it all goes back to. And, as I said, it’s a guessing game for Martin. He must be tearing his hair out at the fact that he has to work with what he has to work with.”

Celtic’s Kelechi Iheanacho at Tannadice

Celtic are five points behind leaders Hearts in the table and also trail Rangers by a couple with seven games to go.

Sutton told the Record Celtic Podcast: “I’d much rather be Hearts than anybody else. They’ve got [Lawrence] Shankland back, they’ll get others back. They’re narrowly winning games, but who would you rather be at this stage of the season?

“Danny Rohl is talking Rangers up a lot. They’ll fancy their chances, but over the years, they have been serial losers. You wonder whether that mentality will kick in again.

“Celtic have to win seven games. That’s what we probably all think, maybe six and a draw, but are Celtic really capable of doing that? And we all know the answer.

“I never quite knew what to make of the split, but this season, I do think it’s going to be epic. Everybody’s capable of beating each other and that’s what Celtic can cling to, really.”