Manager's post-match reaction after Ferencvaros defeat

Celtic’s Europa League campaign got off to a poor start tonight (Thursday) as they lost 3-1 at home to Ferencvaros. Not surprisingly, Martin O’Neill and his players were extremely disappointed at the defeat, and the Celtic manager is now looking for the team to bounce back in the derby clash at Paradise this weekend. Speaking to CelticPlayer after the game, he said: “It was a disappointing evening for us. I thought we started very, very brightly in the game and flashed a number of balls across the box, but with no one getting in the end of them. “And with their first real, proper attack, they scored a goal. That put us on the back foot for a while and we lost a little bit of possession, and I thought we became a little bit sloppy. “Then we get the goal just before half-time and then, remarkably, concede in the minute that the fourth official has put up. “So instead of going in at half-time one each and all to play for, again you find yourself behind. They score in a breakaway for the third goal and it's a long way back after that. “It was a disappointing evening, obviously, but It's gone now. It's not that I won't be looking at it. Of course I will do. but we've got seven more games to try and put something right in the competition. And really, all thoughts now are on Sunday.” Celtic face their second Glasgow derby in the space of seven days when they take on Rangers in the Premiership this Sunday. And the manager knows the importance of getting back to way after two disappointing defeats. “First of all, we have to find the energy levels up again, that's the most important thing, so what we do now between now and Sunday morning becomes very, very important,” Martin O’Neill said. “We need a little bit of rest, we need to talk about the game, and we need to try things that we think that we can iron out and improve, but total concentration is now on Sunday's game.”FixturesCeltic Vs. Ferencvárosi TC - Thu, Sep 17th 2026, 20:00