Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has dismissed any suggestion of a dressing room revolt at the club, insisting there is a united front behind the scenes.
His comments come after captain Callum McGregor gave a frank assessment of the side following Wednesday's draw with Dundee United, which followed Cameron Carter-Vickers criticising the 'random' gameplan at Parkhead.
O'Neill rejects unrest claims
When asked if there was dissent or unrest in the squad, O'Neill said: "I don't agree at all, not at all. Absolutely not."
"Again, I must speak to Callum but no. This is Celtic Football Club. If anyone sees a little chink, it widens and widens, you know. I still think we're doing okay."
O'Neill has faced criticism from fans after a run of three wins in nine games, including Old Firm and Europa League defeats on the back of Champions League failure. However, Celtic remain four points clear of Rangers at the top of the Premiership and can go seven points clear with a win at Falkirk on Saturday.
Manager unfazed by negativity
O'Neill said: "Am I worried (about negativity)? Honestly, no. Years ago I would have been concerned myself but I don't. Social media? I couldn't do it, I wouldn't get up in the morning if that's the case."
"And if it's Celtic fans, it's Celtic fans. Seriously, a way back 20-odd years ago, and I had the likes of Larsson, Sutton, Lennon, Petrov and Lambert, if we weren't a goal in front after 25 minutes, there would be a bit of moaning going on."
"So I'm well used to that. Personally speaking, I thought when we went behind against Dundee United, I thought the crowd really roused themselves. I thought the second half, in all honesty, belonged to us. So I don't see it."
He added: "Of course I worry and concern myself about results and dropping points, but for the next set of games, if we have the same number of points, I would be ecstatic from the same group of players. It's going to be improbable, but I would be delighted."
Team still gelling
O'Neill acknowledged the squad is still adapting after several late arrivals. He said: "I am domestically pleased with where we are considering we've had some players coming in very late on – that's fine, that's my problem – and we're trying to gel together. We're trying to make that ground. Are we complete? No, we're not. But we're still there."
"I come in here every single week and I'm most of the time pretty buoyed by things, and then by the time I finish out this meeting I'm not. Don't try and throw a lot of divides in at the end of the day, we're doing fine. A lot of lads here that we have didn't even do pre-season with us. A number of players came in quite late on, so it will take time for us. So we need to hang in there, and at this minute I think we're hanging in."
O'Neill admitted he could make changes for the match against Falkirk, with injury comeback players Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers unlikely to be risked on the artificial pitch. Auston Trusty has returned to the USA for his father's memorial service, while new signing Jason van den Berg is training but still weeks away from contention.
O'Neill said: "I know the international break is coming up but we have played a lot of games, obviously a different surface as well. So we'll have a look at it. Certainly with the likes of Jota, who's just coming back. He's just back, the question was asked about getting up to fitness – the best way to get fitness is by playing in the matches. But he's taking his time, he's fine, he's settling in."
"But that's something (the surface) that we'd be considering. We're playing against Falkirk, they themselves are after a bit of a stodgy start, they're flying now at the moment. It'll be a difficult game for us, but we've a chance to try and win the game if we can, and that's what we'll try and do."
