Celtic’s Struggles Highlighted by McCowan After 3-1 Defeat to Rangers

Luke McCowan has raised concerns about Celtic’s performance, questioning, “When has it ever been this bad?” after the team’s 3-1 home defeat to Rangers on Saturday.

Despite starting the match strong with a 1-0 lead at halftime, the defending champions conceded three goals in a swift 22-minute period during the second half, allowing Rangers to draw level on points with their city rivals.

Both Glasgow clubs now trail Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts by six points, having played 20 out of 38 fixtures this season.

Celtic began the season with a record of five wins and two draws from nine league matches, which led to manager Brendan Rodgers’ departure following consecutive losses to Dundee and Hearts. Interim manager Martin O’Neill initially secured five consecutive league victories, but current manager Wilfried Nancy has struggled, achieving only two wins in six Premiership games. The recent defeat marks Celtic’s fourth loss in the league.

Having also lost 3-1 to St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup final, Celtic’s recent form has seen them miss out on the last two domestic cups, a stark contrast to their success in winning 13 of the previous 17 cups. They have claimed 13 of the last 14 league titles.

McCowan, who joined Celtic in the summer of 2024, stated, “It’s not nice. As a player, it doesn’t leave you. It haunts you every minute of every day when you’re not winning. Getting home and sitting on the couch, not wanting to move or watch anything – it’s a struggle.”

He acknowledged the pressure that comes with playing for Celtic, emphasizing the need for players to demonstrate resilience and character. “At times within games, we haven’t done that well enough. Our structure and response to situations need to improve. We need to stick together and keep pushing forward.”

This defeat marks the second time in recent weeks that Celtic has lost after leading at halftime, following a similar experience against Dundee United.

Reflecting on the match, McCowan noted, “Rangers changed their shape, and we didn’t react effectively. It’s just not good enough. I’m likely to repeat that in these interviews, but we need to improve. Rangers should not be able to come here and win 3-1; it’s unacceptable.”