Shaun Maloney took training today at a wet Celtic Park before the Celtic squad – including Hampden hero Callum Osmand – headed to Glasgow Airport for their flight to Denmark for tomorrow’s Europa League match against FC Midtjylland in Jutland.
In his interview on Celtic TV yesterday Maloney noted that FC Midtjylland were flying high at the top of the Europa League standings with nine points from nine after their impressive start to the campaign. He also pointed out that by sheer coincidence, Martin O’Neill was at their 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground and has described FC Midtjylland as a very strong team.
That said, Maloney talked about the high quality of the players at Celtic and pointed out that the team intend to play with the intensity and aggression that we’ve seen in the games against Falkirk and theRangers and if they can do that then Celtic’s chances are good.
While Martin O’Neill at 73 isn’t really going to be interested in taking the permanent job on a permanent basis, he certainly could be persuaded to stay around for the rest of this season, with Maloney taking care of training. That could even open the door for Shaun to get the job on a permanent basis.
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He was actually asked about this last Tuesday when the interim team was unveiled following the dramatic events at the club the night before as Brendan Rodgers’ time at the club came to an abrupt conclusion.
Reflecting on that Maloney said: “It was a traumatic day for everyone. Not just at the stadium but at the training ground as well. They’ve lost some brilliant people but you have to move on pretty quickly.
“After speaking with Martin, it was about trying to bring stability to the club.The last 24 hours have been a bit of a whirlwind but it was really, really east to say yes to Martin because of what he’s done for me and my family.”
When asked if Maloney had ambitions to take on the job permanently, Maloney said: “No, nowhere near anything long term. I came back here in a role with the board and then Brendan so at this present time no.
“I’m going to try my best to support Martin and the players but this is interim and then I’ll go back to my role.”
A week can be a long time in football, and you wonder if Shaun would so forthright now. Martin O’Neill clearly has the bug again and his arm wouldn’t need much twisting if he’s to stay around a little longer than expected.
That could open to door for Maloney, ironically enough may cynics predicted that was the plan all along since his return to the club and with Brendan Rodgers likely to leave in next summer earlier after giving his 200% certain assurance that he’d see out his three years.
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Still way to early to predict what role maloney might have within the club going forward.
Somehow, I would be surprised if he isn’t kept within a coaching role, until the end of the season at least imo?
The response from the players towards Maloney seems to have been huge, which in turn has made it far easier for MoN to step into the managers role at present.
Could it be a case of Maloney as the brains behind the scenes, and allowing MoN as the motivation and decision maker, and doing the media role?
Regardless, it’s getting the response we have been waiting upon from our players.
Tomorrow night, along with the rest of this europa league phase, will give ourselves a far better indication as to where we are, regarding a potential CL team again in the making?
To much football to be played, before such an assessment to be made just yet, but surely that has to become the ambition within our club again imo?
A strong europa league campaign, could well enhance Maloney chances of becoming a permanent manager with ourselves, but not the right time to be considering the likes for now anyway imo.
Even so, getting a winning result tomorrow night, has to be our aim. Don’t think we will take such a slow passive approach, that had become our normality against European teams, that we should be aiming to beat, to even consider becoming a respected CL team again.