Celtic

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Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston says the most difficult part of adapting to life in Glasgow was coming to terms with being an A-list celebrity.

The 27-year-old Canada international joined the club in January 2023 from CF Montreal and has become a key member of the squad.

Having spent the entirety of his playing career in the US and Canada before his switch to Glasgow, Johnston says football wasn't the most difficult change.

"The people are great," he told TSN Sports.

"They love you. They are unbelievably abrasive as well. They see you in the street, they'll run across and give you a piece of their mind whether it's good, bad or indifferent.

"For me the football wasn't the biggest change. Playing in front of 60,000 people at Celtic park opens your eyes to how much football means but it was the off the pitch stuff.

"All of a sudden you can't just go for a walk. I was playing in Montreal the year before I went there [Celtic], playing for the national team, going to a World Cup but I could walk through the streets of Montreal with no issue. There'd be a billboard of me and the team and I could walk right by it and no one would bat an eye.

"In Glasgow you could have a hat on, sunglasses and people are still running up and grabbing you. It's a fishbowl. You are the A-list celebrity."

Celtic icon Shunsuke Nakamura is back in Glasgow for Japan's World Cup warm-up friendly with Scotland.

The 47-year-old former midfielder, who is working with Japanese TV for Saturday's game, clearly remains a popular figure and signed autographs outside Lesser Hampden on Friday.

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Steve Clarke would bring "wins and stability" to Celtic, says BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English, but would his "face fit"?

The Glasgow giants are on the hunt for a permanent manager this summer with former boss Martin O'Neill in charge of the side until the end of the season.

Clarke is due to depart the Scotland job after the World Cup, with no new contract offer currently on the table from the Scottish FA.

"One of the things that I have learned over my many years is never to second guess anything in Scottish football, especially this season," English told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Could it happen? Yes, it could. Would Celtic fans want it to happen? I don't want speak for them but certainly some of the Celtic fans I know have articulated the views that they wouldn't want to see Steve Clarke come in.

"They'd want to see somebody maybe a bit younger, a bit more European, in terms of their style of football, a bit more flamboyant. I'm not sure that that's necessarily what Celtic needs right now.

"What Celtic need is a lot of wins and a lot of stability. I think Clarke would give them that, but I'm not sure his face would fit there."

Celtic-linked Craig Bellamy has hinted he intends to stay on as Wales boss following their World Cup play-off exit. (Scottish Sun, external)

Pat Nevin believes there's a 'heartless' reason Scotland captain Andy Robertson won't get a dream move to Celtic this summer. (Liverpool Echo, external)

Frank McAvennie insists Celtic will need to heavily back their new manager in the transfer market. (Glasgow World, external)

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Celtic have been fined £13,000 by Uefa for fans throwing balls on to the pitch during the Europa League tie at home to Stuttgart last month.

The disruption shortly after kick-off caused a delay of more than three minutes in the knockout play-off first leg, which Celtic lost 4-1 before exiting the tournament 4-2 on aggregate.

It was the latest in a sequence of protests from Celtic fans this season against the club's board.

Interim manager Martin O'Neill criticised the first-leg disruption post match, saying: "Anyone who thinks that is a good idea needs their head examined."

Meanwhile, Stuttgart have been fined £19,500 by Uefa for "transmitting a message that is not fit for a sports event" during the second leg.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

As hopeless as Celtic were at Dundee United - and they really were - Martin O'Neill's robust rhetoric afterwards wasn't simply a show of defiance for its own sake.

He's adamant his side is still right in the race. With the home straight in sight, however, the Hoops are struggling to stay with the pace.

If it is to remain a three-way battle, O'Neill has been round the block enough times to know he simply can't afford to slip any further behind.

The next two games at Dundee and at home to St Mirren can be filed in the 'must-win' category. Should six points be gathered, O'Neill's bullishness could yet be well founded.

He wouldn't be one to throw in the towel at the best of times. The veteran manager, having lost league crowns in his first stint over 20 years ago by a single point in 2005 and a single goal in 2003, is acutely aware May madness will again decide the destination of Scottish football's top prize.

It's just that this season's mayhem, for the first time in decades, involves three teams.

As much as Tannadice could prove a sandy grave for Celtic's hopes if they don't improve markedly in response, O'Neill will know that if he can somehow stay within striking distance of the top two, they both have to come to Celtic Park in the final five fixtures.

Celtic are due to play three of their last five games at home. Leaders Hearts and second-place Rangers only have two on their own grounds, and three away.

With no clear 'form' team or runaway favourite, home advantage could be crucial when the tension ramps up further.

At the forefront of O'Neill's thoughts will be where to find the goals required to keep his side in contention. Kelechi Iheanacho, Daizen Maeda and Junior Adamu have all struggled.

Czech striker Tomas Cvancara has played 11 times since his loan move and netted only twice, although he has chipped in with a couple of important assists.

Given midfielder Benjamin Nygren is by a distance the club's top scorer and main goal threat, is there an argument to say he should be deployed as a false nine further forward?

The imminent return of Canada right-back Alastair Johnston will also come as a timely boost for the Celtic manager. Shoring up a defence that has shipped 34 Premiership goals, in a team that has already lost eight league games, is a key priority.

O'Neill has only lost two top-flight matches in his two interim spells. If he's to drag his side over the line, he knows losing another is no longer an option.

Celtic forward Daizen Maeda has been training with Japan at The Rock stadium in Dumbarton in preparation for his national side's friendly against Scotland.

Maeda could come up against a couple of clubmates - Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston - in Saturday evening's World Cup warm-up game at Hampden.

There is no place in the Japan squad for Reo Hatate, who has struggled for form this season, but Maeda is set for his 27th cap and will look to add to his four international goals.

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Bournemouth are happy to sell Julian Araujo, the 24-year-old right-back on loan to Celtic, this summer. (Football Insider), external

Fares Ghedjemis' agent says Frosinone could be prepared to sell the 23-year-old forward, who was pursued by Celtic in January, this summer despite planning to take up an option to extend his contract (TuttoMercatoWeb via Daily Record), external

Wolves are well-placed to beat Celtic and Rangers to the signing of 21-year-old Hacken midfielder Silas Andersen this summer. (Football Insider), external

Ferencvaros chief executive Pal Orosz has said head coach Robbie Keane, who has been linked with Celtic, would go with the club's blessing - if he got the Tottenham Hotspur job. (The National), external

Ferencvaros head coach Robbie Keane has been installed as the new favourite to be the Celtic manager ahead of Motherwell's Jens Berthel Askou by a leading UK bookmaker. (Football Insider), external

Former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou says that, after shortlived spells with Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest, he will only accept a managerial role if it allows him to come on board at the start of pre-season. (Glasgow Times), external

Japan forward Daizen Maeda admits he cannot wait to face his Celtic teammates at Hampden this week on international duty against Scotland. (The National), external

Plans have been unveiled for a statue of Celtic legend Jim Craig in the Govan area of Glasgow. (Glasgow Times), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Thirteen months have now passed since Celtic had their hearts broken in Munich - a gut-wrenching Champions League night, but one that was hoped to be the launchpad for an ambitious new era.

Little over a year later, the unthinkable prospect of the Parkhead club finishing third in their own domestic league is becoming more realistic with each week.

Poor recruitment on the pitch and in the dugout from an under-fire board has been the well-documented source of fury for a disgruntled fanbase.

But what do the numbers tell us about this galling 13-month decline?

Since exiting the Champions League to Bayern, Celtic have won just 54% of their matches over 90 minutes, suffering 16 defeats under Brendan Rodgers, Martin O'Neill and Wilfried Nancy.

Eight of those losses have come in the Scottish Premiership this season alone - more than in the past two campaigns put together and the first time since 1999-00 they have lost as many games in a league season.

In the failed bid to win a historic 10th successive title in 2020-21, Celtic lost five league matches. This term, they have lost more than Hearts and Rangers combined, three more than Motherwell and one more than Hibernian.

They would need to score 56 times in their final seven league fixtures to match last season's 112-goal tally. They are also 17 points worse off than they were after 31 matches and have shipped 14 more goals.

Yet, remarkably, they are still in with a shot at the title. Captain Callum McGregor says they need to win "at least five or six" of their final seven. Former striker Chris Sutton says they need to win them all. On current evidence, that seems unrealistic.

With games running out, the sobering thought for a club that posted cash reserves of almost £70m in December is that they could be closer to fourth than first by the time they next kick a ball.

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Celtic suffered their eighth defeat of the season at Tannadice on Sunday and dropped to third in the table, five points off leaders Hearts.

Injuries, fan unrest and managerial changes have all played their part in what has been a chaotic campaign for the reigning champions, who are in serious danger of losing their grasp on the title.

You'd have to go all the way back to the 1999-2000 season to find a season in which Celtic lost more games (nine).

Now, with seven matches of the title race to go, Martin O'Neill's side can ill afford to drop further points.

"I think you've kind of reached a point with Celtic now where almost regardless of the team selection you expect a really tough game for them," said Stephen McGowan, football writer with The Herald, on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Irrespective of who plays and irrespective of the [Tannadice] pitch, and there was much discussion about that as well, they are really struggling and making heavy weather out of their league campaign.

"I think it's one of these seasons where for Celtic it's almost a case of what's not going wrong? Form, injuries, poor recruitment, managerial issues - you have to go back to the days of John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish to find the last time Celtic lost this many games in a league season.

"They've lost more than Hearts and Rangers combined. They've lost more than either Hibernian or Motherwell. And the goal difference is none too clever either.

"Probably the most worrying aspect of it at Tannadice was the fact it really was quite a gutless performance. There was very little in terms of physicality or mental strength.

"You've seen Celtic come back and launch these kind of late gung-ho comebacks to save their bacon at times this season. There was no indication of that at all on Sunday. United were comfortably the better team, really deserving winners.

"They handled the conditions, they handled the circumstances better, and given that United are struggling to get into the top six and Celtic are going for a title, that has to be really worrying for Martin O'Neill and Celtic. "

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Midfielder Arne Engels "never made an issue" after January interest from Nottingham Forest came to nothing, says Celtic manager Martin O'Neill. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Tino
Fan writer

Seven.

A number steeped in Celtic history - immortalised by Henrik Larsson and Jimmy Johnstone and currently sported by modern-day hero, Jota.

Now, though, it carries a different kind of significance.

Seven is the number of games Celtic have left in this Scottish Premiership season. And in all likelihood, it's also the number we'll need to win if we are to retain the title.

Sunday's defeat to Dundee United was as shocking as it was deflating. It came off the back of a strong run under Martin O'Neill and has left Celtic third in a fiercely contested three-horse race.

In modern times, when have Celtic ever found themselves third in mid-March?

But then, this has been a season defined by firsts. And not the kind we would celebrate.

The first time we've gone through three managers in a single campaign. The first time a Celtic manager - Wilfried Nancy - has lost his opening four games. And surely the first time we've navigated a January transfer window without spending a penny, all while sitting on close to £70m in the bank.

As seasons go, it has been unprecedented - and not always for the right reasons.

But of course, there's one first that still matters above all others: finishing first in the Premiership table.

And that task now demands something extraordinary from O'Neill and his players.

Our longest winning run this season stands at five games, achieved during O'Neill's initial spell as interim boss. To have any chance now, that record will need to be surpassed - and under far greater pressure.

The questions are obvious.

Can Celtic rise to the occasion and rescue a title that, for some, is now looking increasingly out of reach?

Can they take maximum points from Hearts, Rangers et al, despite a season defined by inconsistency?

And having already lost eight league matches - another unwanted first this century - can they still go on to be crowned champions?

If they do, it would mark yet another unprecedented achievement in the three-points-for-a-win era.

And yet, in a season where the unexpected has become the norm, you wouldn't entirely rule it out.

Not this time. And not under O'Neill.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

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Celtic must be flawless in their remaining league games if they are to win the Premiership, says Chris Sutton, although the former striker has no confidence in his old side being able to achieve that.

Sunday's defeat at Dundee United consigned the Parkhead club to an eighth league loss of the campaign and means they are now five points off leaders Hearts, with seven rounds of fixtures to go.

Ex-Celtic forward Sutton now feels Martin O'Neill's men cannot afford to drop another point, but he has little faith in a team "lacking dreadfully in terms of creativity".

"What went wrong for them is what has gone wrong for large parts of the season," Sutton said of his former club's latest defeat.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, he added: "Compared to last season in all competitions, Celtic are 60 goals down. Think about that - that's a hell of a lot of goals.

"I don't know how they are going to score. Kelechi Iheanacho started against Dundee United. He didn't look fit. January signing Tomas Cvancara wasn't well but has been in and out of the team.

"Junior Adamu, another one of the loan signings, seems to be third, fourth, whatever choice for Martin. Every week it's like a lucky dip.

"They are just lacking in every department. It's no great surprise. I don't think Celtic can win the league - I've been consistent on that for a while. I've seen these results coming."

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Jorg Schmadtke has been sacked as Hannover sports director just 24 hours after he confirmed they will turn their loan deal for Celtic centre-half Maik Nawrocki into a permanent £2m transfer if they are promoted to the Bundesliga. (Herald - subscription required), external

South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo admits he has been stunned at the improvement shown this season by Celtic winger Yang Hyun-jun. (National - subscription required), external

Rangers are set to battle Celtic for the services of 25-year-old in-form Motherwell midfielder Elijah Just in the summer transfer window. (Football Insider), external

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Dundee United fully deserved their 2-0 Premiership victory against a Celtic side "bereft of quality", according to former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan.

Goals from Will Ferry and Emmanuel Agyei earned United all three points at Tannadice on Sunday, leaving Celtic five points behind leaders Hearts.

Much has been made of the bare and bobbly playing surface at Tannadice, but Allan says that simply cannot be an excuse for Martin O'Neill's side.

"Once you turn up as a player and you see the surface, straight away you know exactly what type of game it's going to be, especially in that midfield area," Allan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Dundee United are going to be combative, they're going to make you defend, try get you running back to your goals, but then when you do have your moments and you're a Celtic player, you have to get your foot on the ball and show a bit of composure.

"I just thought they were bereft of any quality and when they did get down the sides there was no real belief that they were going to go by someone and create something.

"[Kelechi] Iheanacho was a strange one for me just to come in, especially in a game like that when we haven't seen much of him of late. But think that just sums up where Celtic are in terms of their number nine this season.

"But Dundee United were well worth it. Will Ferry was excellent.

"As much as Celtic didn't put them under a great deal of pressure, Dundee United took their moments and deserved all three points."

We asked for your views on Celtic's potentially damaging league defeat at Dundee United on Sunday.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Jimbo: You get what you deserve. This season, nothing. An overrated, arrogant squad. Don't spend any money. Appoint an overrated, ageing manager.

Gordy: Firstly, the pitch was a disgrace and brought the game down to junior football level, but that's not why Celtic lost. The manager, who has been brilliant, got the team selection and tactics wrong, Callum McGregor and Kelechi Iheanacho should have been on the bench at best, and we should have started with a target man and played long balls as the pitch was not playable. United deserved their victory but should be fined for the playing surface, which was borderline dangerous.

Alan: Not completely sure what was worse, Celtic's play or the Tannadice pitch. No excuses for the poor play. But safe to say that the pitch was the worst I have ever seen - it made plastic seem like a reliable surface.

Stephen: For a team fighting for the league title, this was a hugely disappointing performance. There's a very slight chance we can still win the title, but it's out of our hands now.

Brian: It was one match too far for the backline. Our caretaker manager can only go to the well so many times. Toothless attack and McGregor integral to our success. Title race not completely over but we can't afford any further defeats or even draws.

Kev: Poor result. Can't afford to drop any more points. Still in there, keep the faith.

Watch Dundee United stun Celtic again, delivering a significant blow to the Parkhead side's Scottish Premiership title hopes.

Available in UK only

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Brighton are leading Celtic and other Premier League rivals in the race to sign Sao Paulo midfielder Damian Bobadilla. (Football Insider), external

Manager Martin O'Neill is unsure when Julian Araujo will be fit again after the Mexico right-back missed the past two games for Celtic. (Sun), external

Araujo, 24, has returned to parent club Bournemouth while he is unavailable for Celtic. (Daily Record - subscription required), external

Read the match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Celtic manager Martin O'Neill: "Very disappointing, of course - the result, naturally and the performance, second half, did not match anything at all.

"We had a lot of possession in the first half. We seemed to be camped outside their penalty area. We couldn't penetrate them, really.

"They got the goal and deserved to win the game. The second half, we probably didn't adapt, maybe to conditions.

"Of course, it's a concern. Of course, it's a big blow to us. We're beaten in the game and with games running down, we can't really afford to do that but we're still in it. It's been difficult since I've set foot in the place both times [this season]. Today is a blow but we're not finished yet.

"Hindsight's a great thing and you wish that an awful lot of things that you wouldn't have to resort to. We've done it before. Reo [Hatate] played at right-back from when we came back from a game that we went on to win. We wanted to get on a wee bit more forward power on and, really, that was it.

"We have to bounce back, simple as that. We'll try and put things right again when we re-assemble."

On Callum McGregor's withdrawal in the second half, O'Neil said: "This was very much precautionary.

"We don't want to lose him in the run-in. We thought that he would get as close to 60 minutes as possible. He was just feeling it, naturally, having missed the last couple of weeks."

And, on the scenes of Celtic supporters confronting board members at full-time.

"That's nothing new," he said. "You're bringing up something here at the minute that we don't have a good result. Of course, people resort to these particular things.

"We disappointed an awful lot of people. We've disappointed the supporters who made their way here for a start and we disappointed the supporters who support us from a distance."