Ewen Cameron has accused Martin O’Neill of fearing Derek McInnes and Rangers after Celtic suffered two damaging derby defeats before the international break.

Speaking on the STV Radio Football Podcast, Cameron questioned O’Neill’s comments following Celtic’s victory over Motherwell, suggesting the manager’s remarks about Rangers’ schedule revealed deeper concerns.

“This is my opinion having listened to him yesterday. I have now got the impression that Martin O’Neill is scared of Derek McInnes and Rangers,” Cameron said .

He added that O’Neill’s wish for Rangers to compete in Europe explained his view.

Rangers beat Celtic 3-0 at Ibrox to eliminate their rivals from the Premier Sports Cup before securing a 1-0 Premiership victory at Celtic Park. Those results exposed serious problems for O’Neill, whose side struggled to create clear chances in the second meeting.

However, Cameron’s interpretation deserves scrutiny. O’Neill’s point about fixture congestion has merit, particularly with Celtic preparing for a Europa League trip to Benfica on Thursday.

Rangers, meanwhile, have a full week to prepare for their next domestic assignment. That difference gives McInnes valuable recovery and training time throughout the European league phase.

MOTHERWELL, SCOTLAND – OCTOBER 11: Martin O’Neill, Manager of Celtic, looks on before the William Hill Premiership 2026/27 match between Motherwell and Celtic at Fir Park on October 11, 2026 in Motherwell, Scotland. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)

From a tactical formation and squad depth perspective, "Ewen Cameron behauptet, O’Neill habe „Angst“ vor den Rangers: Ist Celtics Sorge um den Spielplan berechtigt?" carries substantial tournament implications for international seeding and domestic campaign momentum. Coaching staffs are heavily weighing high-pressing efficiency (PPDA), defensive transition pace, and fixture fatigue management.

Tactical analysts monitoring Derby Clashes metrics emphasize that squad adaptability and set-piece execution will likely dictate outcomes in high-leverage knockout environments. Real-time match telemetry and tracking data continue to inform managerial decision-making.

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