Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has revealed that he doesn’t think the Hoops will retain the title. Martin O’Neill’s side won 1-0 against St Mirren but the performance from the Scottish Champions has left many concerned about their prospects of retaining the Premiership.
Speaking to The Warmup, Sutton told Kris Boyd and Steven Naismith that he believes his former side have too many problems that will impede their chances of retaining the trophy next month.
“I’m ruling Celtic out of it. Martin O’Neill says that Celtic need to win all five games, do you think that’s going to happen?
“The thing about the weekend, I’ve never seen St Mirren in all my years in Scottish football, go to Celtic Park and have that amazing turnaround in terms of style.
“They were like Brazil, Celtic could not get the ball off them. They were popping it round them, there were ‘oles’.
“Maybe they could have had more of a threat, worked Sinisalo a bit more.
“The reason Celtic cannot win the league is they don’t control games.
“The midfield three, McGregor, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nygren, I don’t think they’ve got the legs in there.”
The midfield is always a key battleground in tight games and if you win the midfield battle, then you can continue to put pressure on the opposition’s defence. It is a footballing cliche but one that is relevant to Celtic at the moment.
Celtic Manager Martin O’Neill reacts during the Scottish Premiership between Celtic and St. Mirren at Celtic Park on April 11, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
Moving to the top end of the pitch, Sutton commented on the situation with Iheanacho and Cvancara as Celtic struggle to find someone to take chances, and help bring others into the game around them.
“They’ve had the striking situation, you’re saying if Iheanacho is fit but that’s a big if.
“The fact that Martin isn’t starting him and is going for Cvancara who quite clearly isn’t a natural goalscorer, Martin’s having to muddle through games.
“I really don’t see it, Celtic cannot win five games.
“I don’t think there’s the fear factor from Rangers and Hearts going to Celtic Park anymore, they think they can go there and win.
“Alistair Johnston coming back would be a positive, but he’s been out for so long, it’s quite a big ask for him to come back and hit the ground running.”
Celtic have struggled with injuries but the glaring issue has been the lack of quality in the squad, meaning that unexpected absences to players like Cameron Carter-Vickers, Johnston, Jota etc can be accounted for. However, given the abysmal record in the transfer windows recently, there is a situation whereby players like Balikwisha, Mvuka and Adamu are nowhere near the first team picture despite being brought in to supplement the squad.
The fact that Kyogo Furuhashi has still not been replaced is appalling and the fact remains that Brendan Rodgers had to dial up a former player of his, Kelechi Iheanacho so that Celtic would have a recognised centre forward after the selling of Adam Idah to Swansea City.
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