(Credit: Getty, Imago)

Jack Dawson

Sun 22 March 2026 21:00, UK

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Chris Sutton has not held back in his assessment of Celtic after their shock 2-0 defeat to Dundee United.

Sunday’s match was a massive blow to the Hoops’ Scottish Premiership title ambitions as they go into the international break five points behind Heart of Midlothian at the summit.

On top of this, Rangers’ 4-1 victory over Aberdeen on Saturday now means that they have fallen down to third and out of the Champions League spots.

As a result, Sutton has been quick to blast how far the club have fallen, believing that the Hoops are purely relying on Martin O’Neill to bail them out.

Below, Football Insider has analysed Sutton’s comments after a woeful Celtic defeat.

Martin O’Neill is Celtic’s only hope of Scottish Premiership title

This season, it has become very clear that the quality of Celtic’s squad is on its knees.

Despite the results O’Neill has managed to deliver since his return, victories are rarely convincing.

Yet, money was not spent in the winter window, with the lack of a clinical finisher up top clearly putting Celtic at a disadvantage.

Taking to X on 22 March, this is what Sutton highlighted, claiming that the club are solely reliant on O’Neill.

He said: It was coming. “This Celtic team have been a shambles this season. The centre forward situation sums the club up.

“Everyone knows the root cause. Celtic reaping what they sowed. Complacent to the core and trying to rely on Martin to bail them out. I feel for Martin.”

It was coming. This Celtic team have been a shambles this season. The centre forward situation sums the club up. Everyone knows the root cause. Celtic reaping what they sowed. Complacent to the core and trying to rely on Martin to bail them out. I feel for Martin.

— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) March 22, 2026

Once again, Sutton is spot on, with the lack of a top striker coming in during the winter window being scandalous.

While O’Neill has worked miracles since his arrival, this is unlikely to be enough for the title and Celtic have no one to blame but themselves.

What will the summer transfer window bring for Celtic?

Football Insider recently revealed that Arne Engels and Reo Hatate could leave Celtic in the summer, with the club bracing for offers.

The Hoops are reportedly preparing to lose several key players amid growing interest from European clubs.

Given how Celtic have underperformed this season, it is hard to see how the club can convince them to stay, especially if Champions League qualification is ruled out.

However, it remains to be seen whether these sales are permitted if the Hoops reinvest these funds back into the squad.