Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has delivered a stark message to forward Tomas Cvancara, informing the Czech international that he now faces a significant battle to regain his place in the team's plans as the season reaches its critical final stages.
Cvancara's Omission from Hampden Clash
The 25-year-old striker was completely omitted from Celtic's matchday squad for their dramatic 6-2 extra-time victory over St Mirren in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park. This exclusion came just one week after O'Neill had substituted Cvancara after 62 minutes during Celtic's narrow league victory against the same opposition.
Cvancara, who joined Celtic on loan from German side Borussia Monchengladbach until the summer, has struggled to make the expected impact since his arrival. In his 13 appearances to date, the forward has managed just two goals, a return that has clearly frustrated manager O'Neill.
Manager's Rotation Policy Explained
'We did a bit of rotating for the semi-final,' O'Neill explained regarding his team selection decisions. 'It wasn't phenomenal rotating, but I felt Junior Adamu has trained really, really strongly. So that's it. Listen, people have to fight for positions in the team.'
With Celtic now facing five crucial league matches and a cup final against Dunfermline that will define their entire season, O'Neill made it abundantly clear that Cvancara needs to significantly improve his performances to earn back his place in the squad.
Schmeichel's Contract Situation Clarified
Meanwhile, O'Neill has confirmed that goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel remains a Celtic player, despite the Danish international watching his former club Manchester City face Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium rather than attending Celtic's semi-final victory at Hampden.
The 39-year-old goalkeeper, who hasn't featured for Celtic in two months, is potentially facing up to a year out of football after sustaining a shoulder injury. On Sunday, Schmeichel shared two images on social media that highlighted his divided footballing interests.
He first posted a picture of himself wearing a Celtic shirt with the caption: 'Big day of football ahead! Come on the boys.' This was followed by a photograph of himself at the Etihad Stadium holding the Premier League trophy he won with Leicester City, accompanied by the message: 'Big game at the Etihad as well. Reunited with an old friend.'
Medical Decisions Pending
Schmeichel's presence in Manchester rather than Glasgow prompted speculation that his Celtic contract, which runs until the end of the current season, might have been terminated. However, O'Neill firmly dismissed these rumors.
'He is still contracted to the club, yes,' the manager insisted. 'There are some medical decisions to be made on whether he's to get this operation. I will know more about that in the middle of the week. But I have been speaking to the medical staff who were telling me he was going to see a specialist.'
O'Neill added further clarification regarding the goalkeeper's situation: 'He may even have done that by now as that was last midweek. But I don't know whether the specialist wants to do this operation or not. That was the last news I got but I'll know more this midweek.'
The Celtic manager's comments come at a pivotal moment for the club, with important decisions regarding both Cvancara's immediate future in the team and Schmeichel's longer-term recovery process still to be finalized.
