Martin O’Neill has confirmed his decision to stay on as Celtic manager after reflecting on his future over the international break.

The Celtic manager admitted before the international break that he would consider his future after three consecutive defeats and talk to the board.

The 74-year-old has now declared himself up for the challenge after two defeats by Rangers sandwiched a Europa League setback against Ferencvaros.

When asked how ready and determined he was to lead the team forward, O’Neill told the club’s Celtic Player: “I am. I’m extremely prepared for it.

“We had a difficult week. It can happen, you can lose to your arch-rivals, you can lose a European game.

“It’s certainly not the end of the world, as it seemed to be described. But (I’m) ready to go.

“I did think I would take a little bit of time and it didn’t take me that much time to think about it.

“I want to lead the club, I want to try and win the league, which is what we set out to do, and just as determined now as ever before.

“It was a time of reflection for a moment or two and, yes, some things that you think about.

“But overall, I’m back, I’m raring to go and the team’s ready.”

Sunday 11th October 11:00am


Kick off 12:00pm

O’Neill, whose side face Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, added: “What you try and do is analyse the things that you’ve done or perhaps the things that you haven’t done.

“Throughout my managerial time, I’ve been exactly that. I think I look to myself, first of all. Maybe a wee bit different as a player, because I think I used to blame every other player for my own bad performance. But as a manager, you’ve got to look at yourself.

“And if you feel as if something has dropped away, of course you have to analyse it.

“Now, there wasn’t a great deal in some of the games. If we get the equaliser just after half-time in the Rangers game, totally different ball game, totally different. But it wasn’t to be. So you have to reflect on a few things like that.

“But overall, did the reflection, did all of that and a bit of self-analysing and just prepared for the battle.”

O’Neill also revealed that Jota had played 45 minutes of a training-ground friendly against Falkirk on Friday, as the Portuguese winger steps up his comeback attempts following 18 months out with a knee injury.

The Celtic manager has also been encouraged by Alistair Johnston and Callum Osmand getting back on the training pitch following hamstring injuries.

O’Neill added he would assess the fitness of Hyun-Jun Yang on Friday after the South Korea winger experienced hamstring trouble on international duty.

Analysis: Celtic were always calm over O’Neill future

Sky Sports News’ Anthony Joseph:

Martin O’Neill was never going to be sacked by Celtic after three humiliating defeats in one week before the international break – but there was a real potential of him walking away from the job.

After losing 1-0 at home to Rangers on September 20, O’Neill said he would take some time to think about whether he would continue as manager of the club.

Those comments sparked widespread reports and supporter speculation that the 74-year-old was on the verge of resigning.

Sky Sports News understands Celtic have always remained calm about the situation, despite the recent results. There was no appetite to pull the trigger themselves, especially when the teams are sitting at the top of the league.

That was proven when Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson backed O’Neill in a statement announcing the club’s latest financial results. He said: “We will now come together and support Martin and the players, as we focus our efforts on achieving success domestically and in the Europa League.”

The ball has been completely in O’Neill’s court and – as he has said today – he very quickly indicated his intention and desire to stay.

Celtic face a tricky next five games back – Motherwell away (live on Sky Sports), Benfica away, Hearts at home (live on Sky Sports), Celta Vigo at home and Hibernian away (live on Sky Sports).

It’s going to be an interesting month ahead for O’Neill and Celtic.

Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence over his Portugal walkout in a lengthy statement in which he says he is not retiring from the national team.

The 41-year-old, whose actions had raised doubts over his international future, accused Portugal’s new head coach Jorge Jesus of broken promises in a near 2,000-word statement to his 679 million Instagram followers.

Addressing the uncertainty over his Portugal future, the Al Nassr forward said: “If I am physically well, playing for my club, with goals I hope, after serving the suspension that may be applied to me, I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team.”

Portugal boss Jesus, who previously denied there was a rift between him and his captain, said on Sunday the door was still open for Ronaldo to return to the national team.

However, the future of Portugal’s record goalscorer and appearance-maker, whose 146 goals in 234 international caps is the most of any men’s player in history, is far from clear following his decision to air his grievances in public.

Ronaldo, who reveals in his statement that he wrote his international retirement letter after the World Cup, has apologised for his actions but asked the Portuguese Football Federation to punish him and spare him any leniency.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner delivered his statement, which spanned 11 slides on Instagram, a matter of hours before his great rival Lionel Messi was due to bid farewell to international football in an emotional send-off in Argentina.

Sky Sports News has approached the Portuguese Football Federation for comment.

‘The manager had broken his word to me’ – Ronaldo

Ronaldo left the national team squad in Copenhagen on the eve of a Nations League fixture against Denmark after he was an unused substitute for a 2-1 win away to Norway on September 27.

The Portugal captain chose not to applaud the travelling fans with his team-mates, for which he apologises in his statement, and reports subsequently emerged of a rift between Ronaldo and Jesus.

Ronaldo claims in his statement that Jesus had told him he would play 30 minutes against Norway on the day of the game only to go back on his word.

“Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from half-time onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” Ronaldo said. “The coach had broken his word to me.”

On failing to show his appreciation to the fans, Ronaldo added: “At the end of the match I only wanted everything to finish with the victory and to be alone. A failing that is solely my responsibility and that should not have happened.

“I apologise to the Portuguese who supported us intensely there, I apologise to the fans, and I apologise to those who, without being Portuguese, may have travelled there to see me and whom I may have disappointed.”

The eight points Jesus ‘agreed’ to say to the media

Ronaldo and Jesus, who used to work together at Al Nassr, subsequently held a meeting, which was also attended by the sporting director of the Saudi Pro League club, Simao Coutinho.

According to Ronaldo’s statement, Jesus agreed to clarify the situation and say that his captain never demanded minutes and that it was a mistake to let him warm up without bringing him on.

Ronaldo says an eight-point document was drawn up to summarise what had been discussed in a subsequent meeting between Jesus, Al Nassr sporting director Coutinho and Tiago Craveiro, the player’s strategic adviser.

However, Ronaldo felt the Portugal head coach’s press conference bore no reflection to the conversation they had shared, which he claims ended in Jesus asking him for a hug.

“I heard expressions and an aggressiveness that I do not believe I deserved, an attitude of ‘I want, I can and I command’ that he never showed me, not even remotely, in private the day before,” said Ronaldo.

He added: “It was the second time he had broken his word to me. I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises.”

Jesus denied that any such agreement had been made with the player in a later press conference.

Ronaldo’s apologies and Portugal farewell ‘promise’

Ronaldo admitted he never should have left the Portugal camp “despite the absolute breach of trust” from Jesus.

“Never, at any moment, have I interfered in any technical or tactical decision of any coach or national team manager in almost 25 years of career,” said Ronaldo. “I accept, for better or worse, what they propose that I do. I respect the decision, and when they break their word to me, I feel that my place is not there.”

He added: “I felt that, from that point on, my remaining would only harm the working group, and I did what I have always said I would do if I did not feel useful: I packed my bags and left.”

Ronaldo apologised to his team-mates and the Portuguese people over his departure from the squad and said he will accept whatever punishment is handed down to him by the Portuguese Football Federation.

The forward said he hopes his international career will not be limited to a farewell but promised he would end his Portugal career in the right way.

Ronaldo added: “I can promise all my fans, naturally and especially all Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches; there will be time for that. But when I think of the national team, what I really think of is competing.

“That is what I thought on the day I was given the news of my father’s death. I was at a camp with our national team and I decided to stay there until the end of the match the following day. I did for the country what I would never do for any club.”

How Ronaldo nearly retired from international football

Ronaldo publicly admitted earlier in this international break that he considered retiring from international football following the World Cup.

His statement on Instagram reveals that he had written his retirement statement only to be talked out of it by the president of the Portuguese Football Federation Pedro Proença on the plane back from North America.

Ronaldo says Proença then asked him for his opinion on his former head coach at Al Nassr Jesus becoming Portugal’s next manager.

“I told [him] that, in my opinion, it would be the right choice,” Ronaldo said. “That is why, on the day the current head coach was presented, I was genuinely happy with the choice. It was the right option, as the results are confirming.”

It’s been a long international break for England. But it could be a pivotal one in Thomas Tuchel’s thinking.

England’s four-game Nations League camp started with a defeat to Spain but ended with two wins over Czech Republic and a 7-0 demolition of Croatia.

But after countless withdrawals and changes to the squad, who is feeling more confident about their England squad status – and who is starting to look over their shoulder?

Here are the winners and losers of the latest England squad…

Winners

Anthony Gordon

It turns out that Anthony ‘Barcelona’ Gordon is a thing after all. For so long, England’s left wing position was left open to debate. Nobody really claimed it as their own, even at the World Cup just gone.

Now the debate is over. That spot is Gordon’s for as long as he stays fit and firing.

Three goals and one assist during this international break means the 25-year-old is at the peak of his powers. That form is even more surprising given he is yet to get off the mark for Barcelona this term.

Alex Scott

It seems slightly odd to claim this international break a success for someone who has suffered a two-month injury during it. But Alex Scott is here to stay.

In the 7-0 win over Croatia, Scott showed he belonged at that level, playing the Declan Rice role to perfection.

His understanding with Elliot Anderson also shone through. That will be crucial for him going forward, given the pair were the midfield pivot for the most recent Euros-winning England U21 team.

It has worked for England at a major tournament before, it can work in the future. Scott’s emergence has given Tuchel a real rotation option in that role.

James Trafford

Tuchel’s first post-World Cup team selection had one major talking point. For the first time in nearly a decade, England played a big game without Jordan Pickford in goal.

Was the decision to start James Trafford in goal against Spain the first sign of a changing of the guard in the England goal? Never before has an England goalkeeper had this big an opening to usurp Pickford.

After Trafford started the Spain and the Czech Republic games, Pickford returned to Tuchel’s line-up for the last two internationals. The No 1 shirt is not Trafford’s, but the fact this role is now somewhat shared is a huge plus for the Leeds ‘keeper.

Lewis Hall

Do England finally have a left-back?

Part of the Three Lions’ recent spike in form at left wing has a lot to do with Lewis Hall’s form down that flank. After so many tournaments of inverted options and waiting for Luke Shaw to be fit again, England have a natural option on that side again.

The Newcastle defender deserved the assist for Kane’s second goal against Czech Republic at Wembley. England look balanced on that side again, and if Hall can stay fit then the head coach has one less thing to worry about.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

So it turns out Trent Alexander-Arnold can play at right-back for England.

Two starts against the Czech Republic have got people talking about the much-maligned Real Madrid man in a more positive light again.

Alexander-Arnold looks back to his best, showing his creativity in Prague but the way he stretched Czech Republic at Wembley was also impressive.

He can play behind Bukayo Saka and impress. He can do the same with Morgan Rogers and also impress. Is this the camp where Alexander-Arnold’s international career turned a corner?

And no, we haven’t forgotten Harry Kane

This wasn’t a standout camp from the England captain, but it’s not gone unnoticed how Harry Kane just keeps on winning in an England shirt.

That’s 91 goals in 125 England caps now. He has scored in nine out of his 14 matches for England in 2026.

But delivering in every game has become normal for him now. Just give him the Ballon d’Or.

Losers

Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo

Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo were among the first players to pull out of this England squad. Their withdrawals came not even 24 hours after they played most of the 1-1 draw with Fulham.

Is there a way back for either of the Manchester United players?

Not only is their form at United under scrutiny, but others have stepped up in their absence. For Rashford, Gordon has now pulled clear of the United man in terms of the left-wing battle. And with Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze among Tuchel’s favourites, is there still a spot in the squad for Rashford?

For Mainoo, the performance of Scott against Croatia risks putting the United midfielder further down Tuchel’s pecking order.

He was already pretty low on that list after a minute-less World Cup, with the likes of James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White putting further pressure on both he and Rashford.

You wonder if either Rashford or Mainoo regret pulling out of this England picture so swiftly.

Cole Palmer

Chelsea’s Cole Palmer was another player who pulled out of this England set-up early, with load management deemed to be the reason for his withdrawal.

But this international break has proven that Palmer is no closer to breaking the attacking midfield mould that Tuchel has in Jude Bellingham and Rogers.

Bellingham scored or created four out of the seven goals for England against Croatia. He remains untouchable in this team as a world beater. Rogers also scored in that game and is another Tuchel favourite.

After getting back to some form with Chelsea, this was a perfect window for Palmer to muscle his way back in. But he seems further back than ever in Tuchel’s plans.

Reece James

Reece James started out as England’s first-choice right-back. When he was fit, he started, no questions. But has he ended up much further down the right-back pecking order now?

Alexander-Arnold’s displays at right-back during this England camp have brought him back into the right-back equation. That spells trouble for James’ starting hopes for England.

And after Jarell Quansah impressed against Croatia, England’s right-back situation is becoming crowded. Could James be the one to make way from Alexander-Arnold’s form?

Why Tuchel is both a winner and a loser from this camp

This was always going to be a sticky camp for the England head coach, who came into the Nations League campaign needing to earn trust and confidence back after those substitutions against Argentina.

Because of that, this was branded a ‘lose-lose’ for Tuchel. Any standout win and people will question where that performance was in the World Cup semi-final. Any defeat would have sparked more doubts about his credentials and potential at this level.

There are still concerns about Tuchel’s England. His confession that England are still a “danger” to themselves while in possession of the ball echoed his controversial ‘DNA’ comments from the summer. The Three Lions still feel a long way off Spain’s level where they are efficient in both boxes at the same time against the very best.

But the 7-0 win over Croatia – which caught everyone by surprise – has breathed fresh momentum into the Tuchel England era. That would have got the world of football talking.

There’s also a bit more clarity in certain positions. England have two natural full-backs again, the left wing position is sorted. Players like Rice and Saka can be managed more with adequate replacements such as Lewis-Skelly, Scott and Rogers.

After clarity though, must come consistency. Tuchel has picked these players – they must stay there. Only that creates cohesion ahead of Euro 2028.

Are England back?