Martin O’Neill Admits Celtic ‘Lost Our Way Completely’

Martin O’Neill was clear in his assessment after Celtic’s defeat at Tannadice. The Irishman pointed to a game where possession did not lead to chances, and where things slipped badly after the break.

Celtic controlled the ball for long spells in the first half. They spent time around the edge of the Dundee United box, but that pressure never turned into clear openings. The final pass was missing, and the tempo was not quick enough to move the defence.

That left the game sitting at 0-0 longer than Celtic would have wanted. When you dominate the ball without scoring, it keeps the opposition in it. Dundee United stayed compact and waited for moments to go forward.

The second half told a different story. Once the home side scored, Celtic had to chase it. That opened space and changed the shape of the game, which suited Dundee United far more.

He said: (Sky Sports), “I thought we had a lot of possession in the first half.

“We seemed to be camped outside their penalty area. We weren’t able to penetrate the team and very much so in the second half.

“We lost our way completely. Well, I think that the first goal was going to be vital in the game.

“We probably didn’t create enough and maybe didn’t adjust, particularly in the second half, to conditions.

“But that’s taken nothing away from Dundee United. They deserve to win.”

The key point is in how the game turned. Celtic had control without threat, and once they went behind, there was no clear response. The structure loosened, and chances did not come.

That lack of cutting edge has shown up in other matches. When teams sit in, Celtic need quicker movement and sharper decisions around the box. Without that, possession becomes easy to defend.

There is also the issue of adapting during the game. Dundee United changed the feel of it after the break, while Celtic did not find a way to regain control.

With games running down, performances like this leave little margin. The ball was there, the territory was there, but the outcome was shaped by what Celtic did not do in those moments.