Martin O’Neill believes last season should act as a “wake-up call” for Celtic after a campaign that exposed mistakes on and off the pitch.

Celtic still ended the season with a league and Scottish Cup double, but it was not the type of title win supporters had become used to in recent years. The Hoops finished on 82 points, their lowest points total since 2021, and had to fight deep into the campaign before getting the job done.

That matters when judging the bigger picture.

Celtic sold Kyogo in January 2025 and never properly replaced him. Nicolas Kuhn also left last summer, and the squad was allowed to enter the season without enough proven quality in key attacking areas. Those decisions caught up with Celtic, even if O’Neill eventually managed to drag the team over the line.

Speaking to Celtic TV, O’Neill said: “I think for the younger supporter at Celtic, it was a really big thing because the last couple of seasons, having the league won, sometimes even before the split had taken place, things like that, or seeming to be winning easily, this was a real wake-up call.”

He then added: “A wake-up call for the football club, a wake-up call for maybe the younger supporter.”

The manager was speaking about the way last season developed, but the point stretches beyond the dressing room.

Celtic made life harder than it needed to be. The board had money in the bank and time to strengthen, yet key gaps remained. When a club with Celtic’s resources is being dragged into a title race with obvious weaknesses in the squad, questions have to be asked.

The double should not be dismissed. Winning trophies still matters, and Celtic showed character when pressure was at its highest. But silverware should not be used to cover over poor planning.

O’Neill now needs help in the market. Celtic have returned for pre-season, Champions League qualifiers are already on the horizon, and supporters are waiting to see whether last season’s warning has actually been heard.

The title was won, but it was won the hard way. If Celtic repeat the same mistakes this summer, there is no guarantee they will get away with it again.