Jens Berthel Askou has commended Celtic for navigating what he described as a challenging period as Motherwell prepare to travel to Glasgow this weekend…
The Danish boss – who picked up the Premiership Manager of the Month award for February – guided his side to victory the last time the teams met, securing a 2–0 triumph at Fir Park in December.
Almost three months later, Motherwell will take on Martin O’Neill’s version of the Celtic side, having already faced teams led by Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy earlier in the campaign.
Speaking via Sky Sports, Askou said: “Of course it is [a chance to impress]. But it is also just a chance to get another three points, which is what we are chasing every week, because we know we need them to be where we are as a football club.”
“We are competing for positions in the Premiership that will take us on a European journey next year. That is not secured yet, so we need a lot of points in this league.”
“We have been able to compete and also win now, as we’ve shown the last couple of times we’ve played against the best. We need that belief again when we show up at Celtic Park on Saturday.”
On Celtic’s two recent Glasgow Derby encounters, Askou said: “The Glasgow Derbies are special games, and are games with extreme intensity, both on and off the pitch, which creates a very specific emotional and intense state, which blocks some of the complexity in the game, but makes the game more emotional and direct.”
“I’ve seen a lot of Celtic when they have played non-derby games, and they have emotionally controlled more matches. It is a club that has fought really, really hard and done extremely well to come back on top, after some really difficult spells this season.”
“They have played a lot of games, spent a lot of energy, and now they have come out on top the other day. We need to make sure we are at our very best, because it’s a team that can create a lot of pressure, especially at home.”
🗣️ “I’m part of a club that is doing well”
🏆 Targeting a “European journey”
🟢 Celtic praise after “really difficult spells”Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou on his manager of the month award for February, the title race, facing Celtic on Saturday and more ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/exY5D05U21
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 10, 2026
Jens Berthel Askou remains the front-runner for the vacant Celtic manager’s job in the summer.
Conor Spence
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Personally believe that the motherwell manager is already the front runner, for Scottish manager of the season imo?
The way they totally dismantled ourselves in the last game against them, hardly going to make for an easy game on Saturday.
Still think motherwell will have a big say in the destination of the league title myself.
The quality of the football produced by motherwell, would be something we would have been appreciated of, from lesser so called players, and a far better returns within the recruitment department of players?
So no wonder, he is a potential favourite for the managers role with ourselves?
Especially with ticking all the boxes we require, and with the likelihood of forming a new core group within our own squad building process come the summer.
Doubtful that we can afford anything less than 6 points from motherwell now, which is a big enough challenge within itself now.
Also confirms how much motherwell has grown as a team, and we have declined in general this season.
Still believe that we have the greater quality available in squad terms, but certainly won’t be an easy 3 points on offer for ourselves either imo?