Loudmouth pundit Jason Cundy has made it clear he’ll only apologise for his scathing remarks about Celtic “embarrassing British football” under one condition.
This comes as Brendan Rodgers’ side edge closer to a Champions League knockout berth.
Cundy, known for his controversial takes, heavily criticised the Scottish champions after their humiliating 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Borussia Dortmund on matchday two.
However, since that defeat, Celtic have staged a remarkable turnaround. They secured a crucial away draw against Atalanta and followed it up with a commanding 3-1 victory over RB Leipzig, who currently sit second in the Bundesliga.
The result propelled them to seven points from four games, reigniting their European campaign.
During a heated segment on talkSPORT, Celtic supporter Mark called in to confront Cundy about his earlier remarks.
Co-host Jamie O’Hara backed Mark’s call for an apology, but Cundy stopped short of saying the magic word. Instead, he acknowledged the Hoops’ impressive win over Leipzig.
“Credit where it’s due,” Cundy said. “That was a big result, no doubt about it.”
The discussion quickly turned to Celtic’s upcoming fixtures and their standing in the Champions League group stage. As the trio debated the prospects, Cundy begrudgingly admitted that Rodgers’ men are in a strong position to progress to the next round.
However, he couldn’t resist adding a typically blunt caveat.
“Let’s be honest,” Cundy quipped, “you’ve got to be a terrible team not to get through when 24 out of 36 teams make it to the knockout stages.”
The conversation then shifted to the possibility of Celtic finishing in the top eight of the group phase. When this was put to him, Cundy laid down his terms for an apology.
“If they manage that,” he declared, “I’ll give the Celtic fans the apology they’ve been waiting for.”
Cundy’s comments have once again stoked debate among fans, with some viewing his backhanded praise as a refusal to fully acknowledge Celtic’s resurgence.
For now, the ball remains in Rodgers’ court, as his team prepares to face their next Champions League challenge.
Check out the full transcript below:
Mark: “Jamie, you said to Jason he owes Coventry an apology. Do you not think he owes one to the whole Celtic support?”
O’Hara: “He does mate. Absolutely.”
Mark: “What did you say a couple of weeks ago about being an embarrassment to British football?”
Cundy: “You had your pants pulled down. What was the score? You got beat 7-1, Mark.”
Mark: “Are we still an embarrassment to British football?”
Cundy: “Not tonight, but the other night you were. Let’s agree to disagree. Were you an embarrassment to British football when you had your pants pulled down and conceded seven?”
Mark: “We had an off night. We had an off night”
Cundy: “Well done tonight, congratulations.”
O’Hara: “Are you going to apologise? You should apologise. Come on, they’ve got seven points.”
Cundy: “No. Well done, but they’ve had their pants pulled down. When you concede seven in the Champions League..”
Mark: “It’s the way you bounce back, Jason.”
Cundy: “It is. You’ve bounced back well but you know with Celtic, Mark. You know what is going to happen don’t you? You will embarrass British football again, won’t you?”
Mark: “I will give you a ring in a couple of weeks again..
Cundy: “You will? I bet you don’t.”
O’Hara: “They are almost through..”
Cundy: “Yeah they are almost into the play-offs.”
Mark: “We are getting better and strong under Brendan Rodgers.”
Cundy: “I don’t know whether you are. Every year you say the same thing you lot.”
Mark: “This is different mate. Just eat a bit of humble pie Jason tonight.”
Cundy: “Listen, well done tonight but you did embarrass British football.”
O’Hara: “Apologise to Celtic come on. I think it is about time. They’ve shown they are the real deal (Cundy laughs) They’ve shown they can compete in the Champions League at this level against good sides. They beat Leipzig tonight, really good team. Atalanta are a good team. Apologise!”
Cundy: “Goal difference, zero. You’ve conceded nine in four games. But you did score nine to be fair. I tell you what we do. We have this conversation in three weeks. We put it on hold. But I’ve got a funny feeling though, I don’t think you will phone us back, Mark.. Who have you got?”
Mark: “Young Boys and Club Brugge.”
Cundy: “Where are Young Boys?”
Mark: “They are down the bottom so we will beat them.”
O’Hara: “They are struggling. They are 35th.”
Cundy: “You are definitely beating Young Boys.”
O’Hara: “They’ve got Club Brugge as well, they are 27th!”
Cundy: “You know what. I think you might be through.”
Mark: “Do you still want to have that conversation?”
Cundy: “We will have it. I know what Celtic are like, Mark.”
O’Hara: “They might go through automatic.”
Cundy: “If they go through automatic I will definitely apologise. You know what it is like. You’ve got to be a terrible team. All you’ve got to do is finish in the top 24.”
Mark: “We are not a terrible team now though, Jason.”
Cundy: “Tonight you weren’t. Well done, congratulations. But they’ve got it in their locker.”
O’Hara: “Mark, fair play to you. Great result and happy for Celtic seeing them do it in the Champions League finally. It’s taken some time.”
Cundy: “They’ve done nothing yet mate. A broken clock is right twice a day.”
O’Hara: “They’ve beaten Leipzig and drawn with Atalanta. It is one game [Dortmund].”
Cundy: “That’s the night I said they embarrassed British football.”
O’Hara: “You’ve said it before and say it a lot.”
Cundy : “Because they get beat a lot..”