Martin O'Neill remains defiant despite Celtic suffering their fourth defeat in five matches in the Europa League.
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill faced mounting pressure on Thursday evening in Lisbon after his side suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat against Benfica in the Europa League.
The Scottish champions fell three goals behind in the first half following a series of defensive mistakes, leaving them struggling near the bottom of the league table at 34th place out of 36 teams, according to information published by FOOTBALL.
While O'Neill chose to focus on a vastly improved second half performance in Portugal, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton did not hold back in his assessment, branding the team as flat-track bullies following another failure in a high-stakes match.
Defensive Errors Cost Celtic Dearly in Lisbon
The match turned disastrous for the visitors within the opening four minutes when young defender Dane Murray upended Jhon Duran inside the penalty area to concede an early spot-kick.
Further defensive lapses allowed Sebastian Tounekti to be easily beaten by Alexander Bah for the second goal, before goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo was caught out too easily as Duran added a third.
Captain Callum McGregor admitted to TNT Sports that the team were the masters of their own downfall during a dismal first-half display that effectively killed off any chance of taking points away from home.
The Continuing Struggle of Kasper Hogh
Celtic's record signing Kasper Hogh endured another frustrating night, resulting in manager Martin O'Neill hooking the Danish forward at half-time after failing to make any impact.
Hogh has now failed to score in 10 of his first 11 appearances since arriving from Bodo/Glimt during the summer transfer window, placing severe pressure on the club's expensive investment.
Former midfielder Scott Allan noted that Colombian teammate Camilo Duran offered significantly more attacking threat when shifted into a central role after the interval.
Martin O'Neill Remains Confident of Qualification
Despite dropping four of their last five matches across all competitions and losing every major fixture this term against both Rangers and European opponents, O'Neill insists qualification is still possible.
Camilo Duran pulled a goal back after the break and struck the woodwork, while substitute Vangelis Pavlidis ultimately secured Benfica's fourth late in the game to dash any hopes of a miraculous comeback.
O'Neill acknowledged that his team came roaring back in the second half and created numerous chances, giving him the determination to believe they can turn their European campaign around.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score between Benfica and Celtic?
Benfica defeated Celtic with a score of 4-1 in their Europa League fixture played in Lisbon.
Why did Chris Sutton call Celtic flat-track bullies?
Chris Sutton used the term because Celtic have lost every high-stakes match this season, including both meetings with Rangers and both European outings.
How many matches have Celtic lost recently?
Celtic have suffered four defeats in their past five games across all competitions.
What did Martin O'Neill say about the match?
Martin O'Neill focused on the second-half positives, insisting that his side created many chances and can still reach the knockout stages.
