Celtic: Martin O’Neill Doubts ‘Demolition Derby’ Repeat

Martin O’Neill has stepped in as the Celtic manager following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation. The decision came as the team found itself behind Heart of Midlothian in the league standings. Moreover, Celtic failed to qualify for the Champions League and faced protests against the board because of an unsatisfactory summer transfer window.

Celtic’s Upcoming Semifinal Match

O’Neill acknowledges the significance of the upcoming match against Rangers. He stated, “This is a big game for us.” This semi-final will hold particular importance, reflecting the current circumstances surrounding the club.

Previous Derby Experiences

• O’Neill has managed 27 Old Firm fixtures, with a record of 16 wins, 3 draws, and 8 losses.
• His previous encounters at Hampden with Rangers yielded just one victory out of four meetings.
• During his initial five years at Celtic Park, O’Neill only captured one League Cup title.

Looking back, O’Neill shared his feelings about the derby matches. “A nervousness for about 72 hours before,” he recalled. “If you got the result, a great relief.” However, he admitted that his current feelings are worse, rather than different, from before. His first Old Firm derby came after several games. This time, however, he leads the team into battle after only one match in charge, where Celtic claimed a decisive 4-0 league victory over Falkirk.

Building Confidence

O’Neill emphasized the importance of this recent win in restoring the team’s confidence. “We’ll go into this game with that confidence, and that’s the most important thing,” he stated. Yet, he recognizes the challenge of truly gauging player capabilities after a short time with the squad.

Rangers’ New Coach

In the opposing dugout is Danny Rohl, a much younger coach who will be managing only his fourth game with Rangers. O’Neill has heard positive things about Rohl’s abilities, especially after Rangers secured a 1-0 victory against Hibernian at Easter Road. O’Neill acknowledged that Rangers will also enter the match with their own confidence boost.

As the semi-final approaches, Celtic prepares under O’Neill’s renewed leadership, eager to make an impact in this high-stakes encounter against their long-standing rivals.