Callum McGregor believes Celtic showed immediate signs of continuity under Martin O’Neill as they delivered a commanding performance against Dundee United at the weekend…
O’Neill was back in the technical area following the club’s decision to sack Wilfried Nancy, whose disastrous short spell in charge came to an end after a difficult run of results.
Nancy’s tenure lasted little more than a month and included just two victories from eight games, with successive defeats against Motherwell and theRangers prompting the board to make a change after their fatal error of appointing him in the first place.
Having stepped in earlier this season on an interim basis, O’Neill required little time to reacquaint himself with the squad when he formally resumed duties at the start of last week.
Working alongside Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham, the management team reverted to a traditional 4-3-3 system, which quickly brought a positive response from the players.
Celtic’s dominance was reflected on the scoresheet, with strikes from Yang Hyun-jun, Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda and Benjamin Nygren sealing a comprehensive 4-0 win over Jim Goodwin’s men.
Speaking via Celtic TV and giving his first interview since Nancy’s sacking, McGregor said: “You know, that’s a Celtic team in terms of the way they play. Pressing, intensity, quick football, aggressive, scoring goals, clean sheets. A really good afternoon. Now we recover and go again.”
“We just sort of picked up where we left off. You know, the six weeks they were in [O’Neill and Maloney] were incredible. The team had a real bounce, playing with confidence and playing with clarity. It looked like we just picked up where we left off.”
“Yang gets a great goal to start us off. The football was excellent, the counter-pressing was superb, the game was almost played in half a pitch. That’s the sort of dominance that we want. And now, like I say, we’ve just got to repeat that between now and the end of the season.”
Meanwhile, Saturday’s MOTM Yang has been in fine form over the last month played down his stunning strike.
“I couldn’t expect this goal,” the South Korean admitted. “Because I never score in front of the box, so amazing. We are very together now. We have to keep doing what we want to do this year.”
Next up is Falkirk away tomorrow night and there is absolutely no margin for error. The three points are essential against John McGlynn’s side who have already established themselves as competent side in the Scottish Premiership.
Conor Spence
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