Chris Sutton has explained perfectly why so many people in England still misunderstand what Celtic have dealt with this season under Martin O’Neill.
After Celtic beat Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup final to secure a domestic league and cup double, O’Neill has worked wonders at Parkhead to secure one piece of silverware this season, never mind two.
And Sutton says that when people in England look at the achievements this season at Celtic, they will simply not grasp the enormity of what O’Neill has completed.
Give us your gut feeling after the cup final… will Martin O’Neill be Celtic manager next season?
Chris Sutton understands the pressure around Celtic better than most
Sutton knows the demands of success at Celtic. He arrived at the club after a decade of Rangers dominance and after a period where silverware eluded the Parkhead club on a regular basis.
Speaking on BBC 606, Sutton said, “I think he’s the best motivator out there [Martin O’Neill]. You know, I really do.
“And, you know, the issue is a lot of people down south don’t really understand what has happened at Celtic this season and the mess and the unhappiness there’s been, you know, from within the fan base towards the board this season.
“But it’s about finding a way and to bring him back not only once, but twice and for Martin to get over the line with the double. It’s astonishing that. It really, really is.”
That is the point too many outside Scotland continue to ignore. Celtic’s season has not unfolded in a calm environment despite the success eventually delivered on the pitch.
There has been frustration around the club for large parts of the campaign. Questions around the board, recruitment and the wider direction of Celtic have remained constant discussion points even during positive results.
That creates a level of pressure many in England simply do not appreciate. Managing Celtic is different because winning alone does not automatically remove scrutiny or supporter dissatisfaction.
When Sutton said “people down south don’t really understand” Celtic’s season, he summed up the disconnect perfectly.
From the outside, many only see the final outcome. Inside the club, the atmosphere has often been far more tense.
Martin O’Neill deserves huge credit for what he has achieved at Celtic
Sutton calling O’Neill “the best motivator out there” feels completely justified after the way he steadied Celtic during a difficult period.
O’Neill returned to steady the ship following Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic resignation and immediately inherited pressure, expectation and instability around the club. That environment could easily have become damaging if results had slipped further.
Instead, Celtic found a way through it. That is why Sutton’s comments matter. He is not simply praising trophies or results. He is recognising how difficult it is to hold Celtic together when frustration around the club is already bubbling underneath the surface.
Too many people outside Scotland still underestimate that reality. Sutton clearly does not.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
