Martin O'Neill expressed his confusion following Celtic's narrow victory over St Johnstone, marking their sixth consecutive win in the Scottish Premiership. Despite the win, O'Neill described his team's performance as "laborious," revealing a need for clarity on the squad's dynamics after making several changes.

Celtic debuted on-loan goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and handed first starts to midfielder Oliver Sorensen and centre-back Dane Murray, while recalling winger Sebastian Tounekti and striker Kasper Hogh. After Mika Baur's goal secured the three points, O'Neill admitted, "I'm not sure what to make of it, really," and acknowledged that his team is still "well short of it" as they prepare for a crucial week ahead.

With a Europa League match against Ferencvaros and a double-header against Rangers looming, O'Neill's five changes raised eyebrows, particularly the omission of Camilo Duran, who has had a strong start to the season. The manager noted Duran's importance, stating, "[Duran's] just been class," and recognized that the team struggled without him.

O'Neill also highlighted the need for Hogh to step up, hinting that he must create scoring opportunities rather than wait for service. Meanwhile, the performance of Yang Hyun-jun was missed, with James McFadden criticizing Tounekti's decision-making.

Despite not scoring, veteran James Forrest continued to impress against St Johnstone, and McFadden advocated for his inclusion in the lineup against Rangers. As Celtic navigates their title defense, O'Neill faces critical decisions regarding player roles and team cohesion.