Lambert backs O'Neill as Celtic pressure builds after Rangers defeats

Paul Lambert says he would be shocked and disappointed if Celtic sacked Martin O'Neill — but would not be surprised if O'Neill decided to walk away himself.

Lambert spoke out on 21 September in defence of his former manager, as pressure builds around Celtic Park after a bruising run of results, according to BBC Sport.

O'Neill has said he will use the international break to reflect. That followed back-to-back defeats by Rangers in the Glasgow derby, the fierce rivalry between Celtic and Rangers that shapes so much of the Scottish season.

The two derby losses came either side of a home defeat by Ferencvaros in the Europa League, Europe's second-tier club competition. Celtic also crashed out of the Champions League, Europe's top club competition, in August after surrendering a 4-0 aggregate lead to LASK. Aggregate means the combined score over two legs.

It is a sharp turn. O'Neill was made permanent Celtic manager in the summer after stepping in twice on an interim basis last season. He steadied the club after the departures of Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy, and those two spells delivered a league and Scottish Cup double.

Lambert knows that history well. He played in midfield for Celtic under O'Neill from 2000 to 2005, a spell that brought seven trophies. He described O'Neill as Celtic's best manager since Jock Stein, the legendary boss who led the club to the European Cup in 1967.

For fans, this means a familiar tension. O'Neill returned as a safe pair of hands and delivered silverware. Now a derby double defeat and European exits have changed the noise around him.

Lambert's message was simple. Sacking O'Neill would shock him. O'Neill choosing to leave would not.