adminEx EPL star retreats after bold Celtic relegation statement as he throws Rangers into dismissive English football debate
Celtic are locked in a three-way fight with Hearts and Rangers for the Scottish Premiership crown, but currently find themselves trailing both rivals in the standings.
The Hoops sit third in the table and are also playing catch-up off the pitch as the title race gathers pace. They return to league action on Wednesday evening.
Martin O’Neill’s side host Livingston at home after booking their place in the next round of the Scottish Cup with a 2–1 victory over Dundee on Saturday.
Goals from Junior Adamu and Sebastian Tounekti proved enough to see off the Dark Blues and keep Celtic’s cup hopes alive.
Ben Foster revises Celtic stance
Former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster recently sparked debate by suggesting Celtic would struggle in English football. Speaking on his podcast, The Fozcast, the ex-Manchester United man claimed the Hoops would be relegated from the Championship if they were part of the English pyramid.
Foster said clubs south of the border would never vote to allow Celtic and Rangers to join, arguing it would damage Scottish football while also threatening English sides competing for promotion and survival.
However, he later softened that stance while speaking on talkSPORT. Although he stood by much of his original point, Foster withdrew the relegation claim, saying: “If you put Rangers and Celtic into the Championship today, with the squads they have right now, they wouldn’t go down. But I still don’t think they’d get promoted.”
Alan Brazil was quick to challenge that view, questioning whether the Glasgow giants really couldn’t overcome teams such as Millwall or Wrexham.
What next for Celtic and O’Neill?
Celtic know they must begin closing the gap on Hearts and Rangers in the coming weeks or risk losing touch entirely in the title race. Wednesday’s clash with Livingston presents a strong chance to collect three valuable points and build momentum.
Off the pitch, the club also face a major decision regarding their long-term managerial future. O’Neill has returned to steady the ship following Wilfried Nancy’s troubled spell, but uncertainty remains over the direction Celtic will take next.
After the Dundee win, O’Neill praised his players’ resilience and character. He said he was delighted to progress, highlighting the team’s determination to force an equaliser late on before sealing victory in extra time.
The Celtic boss also reserved special praise for Adamu after his debut goal, noting the challenges new players face when adapting to a different environment and squad, and commending the forward for making such a positive early impact.
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