Martin O'Neill Reacts to Schmeichel's Career-Altering Surgery Announcement
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill expressed both surprise and disappointment upon learning of Kasper Schmeichel's announcement regarding his potential career-ending double shoulder surgery. The goalkeeper revealed this significant news during CBS's Champions League coverage, stating he might face up to a year of rehabilitation. O'Neill had recently noted that Schmeichel was nearing a return to fitness, but he was unaware of the severity of the injury, which the player had been managing since sustaining it while playing for Denmark a year ago. O'Neill shared his thoughts: "I must admit I was surprised at the severity of it... I didn't realize how bad it was. Disappointed to hear the news." He acknowledged that Schmeichel had been receiving injections to cope with the pain, but the scan results revealed a much worse condition than anticipated. O'Neill added: "I wasn't expecting to hear that." The 74-year-old manager noted that Schmeichel had faced criticism for his performances, particularly after an own goal during Celtic's Scottish Cup final defeat to Aberdeen. Fans speculated whether the shoulder issue affected his play. O'Neill reflected on the commonality of playing through injuries, recalling his own experiences: "We've all played with injuries... I thought he was really terrific in my first spell here." Despite the challenges, O'Neill pointed out that results had been satisfactory with Schmeichel in goal, highlighting his contributions in matches, including a crucial save against Hibs. In other news, Callum McGregor is anticipated to be fit for Celtic's upcoming match against Dundee United on Sunday after recovering from a calf injury.
Source: Sky Sports - 2026-03-20