Chris Sutton questions Callum McGregor’s Celtic analogy, claiming he “missed the point.”

Chris Sutton has questioned Callum McGregor’s assessment of the differences between Martin O’Neill’s current Celtic side and the team the manager built during his first spell at the club, following Sunday’s disappointing 1-0 defeat to Rangers.

McGregor had discussed the contrast between the two Celtic generations before the latest Old Firm derby, suggesting that O’Neill’s team from around 25 years ago had a different approach to the game, particularly in the way they played with greater directness.

However, Sutton believes that comparison does not fully explain why the two teams are different.

The former Celtic striker, who was an important part of O’Neill’s successful side, took to social media after watching the latest derby and argued that the biggest difference was not simply whether the team played directly or through possession.

Instead, Sutton believes the crucial factor was the ability to adapt.

His argument is that O’Neill’s first Celtic team possessed the physical strength to compete with opponents but also had enough technical and tactical variety to change their approach depending on what a particular match demanded.

That ability to respond to different circumstances, according to Sutton, was a defining characteristic of the side he played in.

McGregor’s comments had focused on the stylistic differences between the two teams, but Sutton believes the current Celtic players need to demonstrate more flexibility when games do not develop according to plan.

The issue became particularly noticeable during Sunday’s derby at Celtic Park.

Celtic enjoyed periods of possession but struggled to translate that control into meaningful opportunities in front of goal. Rangers were able to withstand Celtic’s pressure and, when the match became more open, they found opportunities to exploit spaces in the home side.

Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers (left) reacts during the William Hill Premiership match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Sunday September 20, 2026.

The eventual 1-0 defeat extended Celtic’s difficult run and provided Sutton with another opportunity to question the team’s performance.

For Sutton, the problem was not simply that Celtic were attempting to play a possession-based style instead of adopting a more direct approach.

Rather, he believes the current team did not demonstrate enough awareness of what the match required at different stages.

O’Neill attempted to make changes as Celtic looked for a way back into the contest. The Celtic manager altered his shape at half-time and continued making adjustments as his team chased an equaliser.

Despite those attempts, however, Celtic could not establish sufficient control over the game.

They were unable to consistently create the type of pressure required to force Rangers into mistakes, while their attacking play lacked the quality needed to turn possession into clear-cut chances.

Sutton’s criticism therefore centres on Celtic’s ability to manage matches rather than simply their formation.

The former striker believes O’Neill’s previous Celtic team could impose itself physically but was also capable of changing its rhythm and approach.

That side was not dependent on one particular method of playing.

They could increase the intensity when necessary, slow the game down when circumstances required it and use their physical qualities to gain an advantage.

At other times, they could find alternative ways of creating opportunities.

That versatility is what Sutton feels is currently missing.

The former England international was one of the players who helped define O’Neill’s first Celtic team. He experienced first-hand how that side could combine physicality, aggression and attacking quality while still adapting to the circumstances of individual matches.

His latest comments suggest that he does not believe Celtic’s current difficulties can simply be explained by the team being less direct than O’Neill’s first side.

Instead, he sees a wider issue with the players’ ability to recognise when a match is changing and then adjust accordingly.

That concern was evident against Rangers.

Once Celtic fell behind, they needed to find a different solution. Rangers were able to protect their advantage while Celtic struggled to generate sustained attacking pressure.

The home side had possession, but possession alone did not provide the breakthrough they needed.

Sutton had already delivered a critical assessment of Celtic’s performance after the match, suggesting that they were fortunate the final margin was only one goal.

His latest comments reinforce that view while focusing specifically on how Celtic responded to the demands of the derby.

The defeat was also Celtic’s third consecutive loss, increasing pressure on O’Neill as he looks to correct the problems affecting his team.

The manager now has the international break to analyse what went wrong and work on solutions before the domestic campaign resumes.

Celtic’s next league assignment will be against Motherwell, providing O’Neill with an opportunity to respond to the recent setbacks.

For Sutton, though, the challenge extends beyond changing personnel or switching formations.

His central argument is that Celtic need players who can understand the flow of a match and react when circumstances change.

O’Neill’s previous Celtic team could be direct, but it was not limited to playing one way.

They could compete physically, change the tempo, alter their approach and find different routes to victory.

That adaptability, in Sutton’s view, was a major strength of the earlier side and is the quality the current Celtic team must rediscover.

McGregor’s comparison may have highlighted differences in style, but Sutton believes the more important distinction is how effectively the two teams could respond when matches became difficult.

Sunday’s derby provided a clear example of that problem, with Celtic unable to find the necessary response after Rangers took control of the contest.

O’Neill will now have time to address those shortcomings, but Celtic supporters will expect a significant improvement when the team returns to action.