Q: Just going back to (the)Rangers, you obviously made those comments on talkSPORT when you said that (the)Rangers are so far adrift. Would you then see it as a big shock if your team weren’t to win on Sunday?
Martin O’Neill: “So far adrift in the league, I was talking about. I know I’ve been used to having my words tangled around here for 20-odd years or 20-odd years ago. So, yeah, don’t try that, young man. Yeah, far adrift in terms of… When you say this here, Hearts were eight points clear of us and then a number of points clear then. And that’s a deficit. I didn’t say about a deficit of catching up with us at the time. So let me make that clear.”
Mark Viduka celebrates Goal Celtic v Rangers 27 December 1999
Photo: Mary Evans Allstar Richard Sellers
Q: Can you tell us about the landscape, the change of landscape of Scottish football from the time when you were managing? Think of the players then, think of the money then, think of the players now, think of the money now. Is that a huge gulf and what do you make of it?
27 August 2000: Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton of Celtic celebrate after the Scottish Premier League match against Rangers at Celtic Park. Celtic won the game 6 – 2. Photo: Stu Forster /Allsport
Martin O’Neill: “I think you’ve just mentioned it. I think that’s exactly right. You know, I stepped in in the year 2000 and if you look at the Rangers side that we were up against, it was really terrific. And then I had some really good players. Was able, when Mark Viduka left for £6 million, I was able to, and this is in the year 2000, I was able to turn that over on Chris Sutton. And I would have wanted Mark Viduka to stay because then I would have never met Chris Sutton! But he did fantastically for me, and so I’m very appreciative of what he did. But what I’m saying to you, you’re talking about the landscape, the difference in the landscape and it’s probably all down to do with the money.”
Kieran Tierney of Celtic arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Celtic FC and SK Sturm Graz at Celtic Park on October 23, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Q: Kieran, you said he should be OK. Saracchi didn’t train today, is he going to be OK?
Marcelo Saracchi of Celtic controls the ball during the Premier League match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on October 29, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill: “He’s, yeah, I think he will be OK. He’ll be OK. I thought he did really, really well for us.”
Q: And just a word you said you make a decision on your selections tomorrow, but Johnny getting the two goals the other night, does that make your selection easier or more difficult
Martin O’Neill: “Probably more difficult really. But yeah, I genuinely, seriously, will have a think about it all today when everybody’s got through this, or more likely tomorrow morning.”
Daizen Maeda of Celtic celebrates in the penalty shoot out during the Premier Sports Cup Final between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden Park on December 15, 2024. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Q: Just to find out what you mean on that, if I may, is Daizen fit enough to play 90, do you think, if you do choose that?
Martin O’Neill: “Again, you’re… I will get my physiotherapist in here now, just in five minutes.”
Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, signed copies by Danny McGrain available from celticstarbooks.com
Don’t miss the chance to purchase the late, great Celtic historian David Potter’s final book. All remaining copies have been signed by the legendary Celtic captain Danny McGrain PLUS you’ll also receive a FREE copy of David Potter’s Willie Fernie biography – Putting on the Style, and you’ll only be charged for postage on one book. Order from Celtic Star Books HERE.
Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star
Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books
