Martin O’Neill returns to Celtic as interim manager alongside Shaun Maloney

Martin's press conference

 

I love the guy

 

Martin O’Neill says that he revelled in the opportunity to beat Rangers one more time as manager of Celtic after guiding his side to victory in Sunday’s League Cup semi-final, despite the ‘excuses’ of his club’s city rivals.


Rangers held talks with Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum this week as they questioned some of the decisions made by match referee Nick Walsh and his VAR team at the national stadium, specifically the decision not to send off Auston Trusty for kicking goalkeeper Jack Butland on the head and the call not to issue a second yellow card to Anthony Ralston after the defender conceded a late penalty.

O’Neill gave his own take on those incidents as he arrived in Denmark ahead of Celtic’s Europa League tie against FC Midtjylland, admitting that Trusty was fortunate to escape a harsher punishment, but argued that Rangers shouldn’t even have been awarded a spot kick for Ralston’s handball.

“Whatever sort of excuses they make, two things,” O’Neill said.

“I don’t think it was a penalty, and I think Trusty was lucky to stay on the field, having seen those things back. So, that’s my points.

“But it’s still one of the great fixtures in European football, if not the world. We won.

“Watching it back, sometimes there’s things you miss. We had awesome, really great chances.



Rangers did great with 10 men in the second half of the game. But, we did create some chances.

“I’m delighted to be here and if you said to me, I’ve got one more win over Rangers, well that’s the best news in the world.”







After the emphatic win over Falkirk and then the triumph over Rangers at Hampden, speculation has begun to mount that O’Neill may just be in old routine for a little while longer than he had originally planned, though the 73-year-old still isn’t sure if he could handle the intensity of taking on the Celtic job on a full-time basis once again.

“That’s a very good question,” he said.

“And the answer is, genuinely, I don’t know. If you’re talking about, for instance, the fixture list coming up, there’s no respite between now and right through to virtually late February.

“You might still be involved in Europe, you might not be…we might not get the points. So, you think, every week and midweek. That’s really challenging and it’s challenging for young men at the end of the day. So that I don’t know.

“The consideration will come from the board in that sense. If you don’t win the football matches, then it’s an easier decision for the board to make.

“And I think even if you did win some football matches the board would still be thinking younger man stepping into the job. That would be my view.

“I’m totally aware that the results dictate everything…everything. Just let’s turn the clock back and we’d lost to Rangers, then I think the hunt for the manager, which is on at this minute, becomes intensified. But if you get a result, it’s a bit of respite.

“I don’t know if they made their minds up, I haven’t been involved in any of that conversation.

“But listen, we’re in the results business and we have to get results.”

O’Neill says he is excited by the opportunity to lead Celtic into European competition once more after his previous successes on the continent during his first spell in charge, though he was quick to point out that the famous run to Seville back in 2003 didn’t have the happiest of endings.

“I mean, we were beaten in the UEFA Cup final, so it's not great news,” he said.

“We lose to a very, very talented side in the final, who spent a lot of time on the ground. So that keeps me awake at night.

“But they went on to win the Champions League the following year, so a great team, and a brilliant, brilliant manager. One of the best managers that's been in the game.

“That's a long time ago. If you were asking me a week ago, would I ever actually be involved in another European game, I think you'd have a fair idea what the answer was.




But it's pleasing. If you're talking about Celtic and European games, this is where Celtic should be aiming to be, to be playing in big, big games. And that was set way back, as far back as 1967, when the immortal Jock Stein and the best manager that Celtic have ever had and the best team that they've ever had set a standard that it's very, very difficult to reach. And the only way you do that is by eventually winning the European Cup.

“Now, lots of things have changed since then. Big, big money in the game, so there's not so much of a level playing field, but it's still, you know, it's European football and it's one Celtic should be aspiring to.”

Alistair Johnston and Kelechi Iheanacho were not yet fit enough to make the trip to Denmark, but Callum Osmand was added to the Celtic Europa League squad in place of the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.

 

We are on a small high now. Let's see how we feel come end of year after a few euro games and some tricky league fixtures whether he is the man or not. I get the romanticism but how would everyone feel if there was still no progress in Europe this season or losing a few euro games on the trot? Hating the "it's a free hit" attitude l, don't want this or future management teams to get a pass just because

 

Hes not staying past christmas. Infact id be suprised if hes here after the international break. His last game will be sunday. Hes came in, done a fantastic job, lifted the fans, and in reality almost single handedly gave us hope for this season. You couldnt of asked for a better interm manager.

However id hope the new manager would keep maloney on though. Hes a qaulity coach. Thats up to the next guy though.

 

Whether he stays until Jan or the end of the season etc, will depend on how far on we are with the new manager process. Which let's face it, with our board its pure guess work..

He and Maloney have bought time and if they keep winning who knows.. maybe we keep until the summer. And in the meantime make those changes to our structure, before bringing in a top class coach, as one doesn't happen without the other.

Maloney would be a good Assistant, but then he become Kennedy 2.0, the Boards man in the dressing room.

 

Couldn't care if its Kennedy 2.0. He was a great coach. If its the best for the team then good. People need to stop there bitterness towards home grown staff. If the new manager brings better? The great. Whatever is the best for the team.

 

Important to remember that even if we lose it changes nothing in terms of positivity imo. We are looking really good. This is a free hit

 

I wouldn't mind Maloney in some sort of capacity. I've zero bitterness to homegrown staff or players btw..

But you do feel the board insisted that Kennedy was part of any new Manager's staff. That can be an issue, with that Assistant always in place, primed to take over if the Manager fails.

And for me when a Manager fails, the coaching staff should follow out the door too, a fresh start for everyone. I'm glad Kennedy left when he did, with thanks.

Just to add, a DOF should be the continuity between Managers, not a Coach..

 

I don't think MO'N wants it beyond Sunday, he seems like he can't be * in pressers, maybe he just hates the banal questions though

 

I answered no on the poll but only because I think any iteration of it is a short term fix. It's either a no or till the end of the season. Anything in between is pointless for me

I wouldn't be against giving them it until the end of the season but I'd prefer our longer term successor in soon.

 

Said aye because I ain't got a clue about any other managers.
But longer term I think MON to end of season, then spend the time from now until end of season getting a new manager signed and let him sort his targeted players out behind the scenes and hopefully pre contracts so as soon as season is over he's in the door, followed soon by the players he wants and has the summer to sort out his plans, playing style etc to hit the new season running.
But it's Celtic.

 

Pretty much how I feel. Infact I'd rather get a new manager in still during the international break..

 

For me if we can make changes in our boardroom/structure before making our next appointment.. we'd definitely attract a higher calibre of candidate..

The trouble is, we don't know when or even if that may happen..

They have bought time and the team are playing with smiles on their faces.. if we they can keep it going and it takes a bit of time to make the changes necessary, I'd be ok with that.