Celtic v the Rangers – “It is a phenomenal fixture, even now,” Martin O’Neill

Martin O’Neill spoke to the assembled media at Hampden yesterday afternoon ahead of tomorrow’s eagerly awaited Premier Sports Cup semi-final against theRangers at the national stadium. Here’s everything that was said…

Q: Martin, you’ve said it’s surreal to be back. I wonder how it feels to be preparing for this fixture, one that you weren’t so synonymous with in your first time here?

Martin O’Neill: “Still surreal, believe it or not. When I came in, obviously, I hadn’t seen the fixture list. If I had, I probably would have stayed at home. But anyway, such as it is. I’m excited, really. Excited by the fixture, it’s always a great one. And genuinely looking forward to now, or I think I am anyway.”

Q: I appreciate time has passed, but what do you remember about them that you can try and bring into this one in terms of your experience?

Martin O’Neill: “Oh, what did I find about them? Just like a nervousness for about 72 hours before, and then if you got the result, if you did get the result, a great relief. And I think that’s what the great Walter Smith used to say about it as well, that it was relief more than anything else. But they were fantastic fixtures, really. And when the stadiums had the full allocation of away support as well too, which was terrific. I always felt going to Ibrox that our crowd would have helped us in the same manner as I’m sure Alex McLeish probably thought that the Rangers crowd over to the right-hand side at Celtic Park would help them as well too. So from all of those things, it’s still a fantastic fixture.”

Q: I appreciate you’ve said this is a short-term thing this time, but when you think about your first derby game, the win and what it did for you, it goes without saying you’ll be keen to try and replicate that this time and bring some real joy back after a difficult spell?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, replicating that might be extremely difficult. Like scoring six goals against that side. I’d settle for a really lousy 1-0 victory if we could get it. Of course, obviously fond memories, it was great. And I think it did give us a real springboard really for that season. Because in November time, Rangers took us apart at Ibrox. But I think we had enough confidence at that stage or enough self-belief about us that we could withstand that. And I think that’s what happened. Just getting back to your point, it is a phenomenal fixture, even now.”

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