Chris Sutton criticizes Celtic following Ibrox humiliation, calling them “mauled.”

Chris Sutton has delivered a fierce assessment of Celtic following their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox, with the former Hoops striker particularly critical of Martin O’Neill’s tactical decisions and the lack of strength in the Celtic midfield.

The heavy defeat saw Celtic eliminated from the Premier Sports Cup, while Sutton did not hesitate to identify what he believes were some of the biggest problems behind their performance.

His criticism focused on three major areas: O’Neill’s starting XI, Celtic’s lack of physicality in central midfield and the limited impact of record signing Kasper Høgh in attack.

Writing on X after the final whistle, Sutton summed up Celtic’s display in particularly harsh terms.

“Mauled. Handed Rangers the initiative with the starting line up… overrun and out powered in the middle of the park but that will be inevitable at times this season as Celtic so lightweight in that area. Good technicians but can’t run. Bullied. And Hogh needs to offer more!”

It was a damning assessment from someone who knows the intensity of the Old Firm rivalry, and the performance at Ibrox provided plenty of evidence to support Sutton’s concerns.

Rangers dominate the midfield battle

Celtic found themselves struggling to establish control almost immediately, with Rangers setting the tempo through aggressive pressing and greater intensity.

The home side repeatedly won important challenges in the centre of the pitch, preventing Celtic from building attacks comfortably and forcing O’Neill’s team into difficult situations.

Callum McGregor and Mika Baur were frequently required to cover significant areas of the field, while Benjamin Nygren struggled to have the influence Celtic would have wanted from him.

As Rangers regained possession and moved forward, Celtic often appeared short of energy and defensive cover.

That imbalance allowed Rangers to exploit spaces and maintain pressure, with Celtic unable to regain control for long enough to change the direction of the contest.

13th September 2026; Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland; Scottish League Cup Football, Rangers versus Celtic; Benjamin Nygren of Celtic and Sebastian T

Sutton’s criticism of the midfield was therefore one of the most significant aspects of his post-match reaction.

Celtic possess several players who are technically capable and comfortable with the ball, but against Rangers that technical ability was not enough.

The Hoops were repeatedly outworked and physically dominated, particularly when the match became more intense.

Questions over O’Neill’s starting XI

The Celtic line-up selected by O’Neill is also likely to generate considerable debate among supporters.

The manager opted to start Nygren and Høgh, with Camilo Duran and Sebastian Tounekti also included in the attacking setup.

On paper, the selection offered plenty of attacking quality, but the problem was the balance of the team.

9th September 2026; McDiarmid Park, Perth, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, St Johnstone versus Celtic; Kasper Hogh of Celtic tries to rouse the fans

Celtic had several players capable of creating opportunities, yet there appeared to be insufficient physical presence and running power when they lost possession and needed to recover their defensive shape.

Against an energetic Rangers side, that weakness became increasingly obvious.

Once Rangers established control, Celtic struggled to respond and were unable to consistently match the intensity being produced by their opponents.

Sutton therefore believes O’Neill’s initial team selection contributed to Rangers gaining the upper hand.

The former Celtic striker’s argument is that the Hoops effectively gave their rivals an advantage before the game had properly settled, and the performance that followed made it difficult for them to recover.

Høgh told he must improve

Kasper Høgh was another player singled out by Sutton after the final whistle.

The striker has arrived at Celtic with significant expectations, but his contribution against Rangers was not enough to satisfy the former Hoops forward.

Sutton’s verdict was simple: Høgh “needs to offer more”.

The Danish striker did have one promising opportunity during the first half.

Colby Donovan produced a pass that sent Høgh through, giving him a chance to threaten the Rangers goal. However, the Celtic forward lost his footing at the crucial moment and was unable to get an effort away.

That opportunity proved to be one of the few occasions when Høgh looked capable of making a significant difference.

For much of the contest, he struggled to become involved and found it difficult to influence the match from his position.

O’Neill eventually removed the striker during the second half as Celtic attempted to find a way back into the contest.

Celtic’s physical problem needs solving

While Høgh’s performance will attract attention, Sutton’s broader concern about Celtic’s midfield could be even more important for O’Neill.

The defeat highlighted a potential weakness that could become a recurring issue if Celtic are unable to add greater physicality and running power to their midfield structure.

The Hoops have technically talented players, but against Rangers they lacked the ability to consistently compete in the physical and athletic battles that defined the contest.

That allowed Rangers to dictate the rhythm and repeatedly put Celtic under pressure.

O’Neill and his coaching staff will now have to examine why their midfield was unable to cope and whether changes are required before the teams meet again.

There is little time for Celtic to dwell on the defeat, because another Old Firm fixture is already approaching.

The two sides are scheduled to meet at Celtic Park next weekend, giving O’Neill an immediate opportunity to respond.

The manager will need to find a way to improve the balance of his side, provide greater protection in midfield and get more from his attacking players.

For Sutton, the Ibrox performance was a warning that Celtic’s technical quality alone will not always be enough.

If the Hoops remain lightweight in midfield and struggle to match Rangers physically, similar problems could emerge again.

The 3-0 defeat has therefore raised serious questions, and Celtic will be expected to provide answers when Rangers arrive at Celtic Park next weekend.