“They thought they had a really reasonable lead and there’s Celtic topping the table,” Martin O’Neill

Martin O’Neill admits that he’s mightily impressed with the job Ange Postecoglou is doing at his old club and reckons that the current Celtic manager can go on to recreate the kind of success he enjoyed when he swapped Leicester City For Celtic two decades ago.

SEVILLE – MAY 21: A dejected Celtic manager Martin O’Neill after the UEFA Cup Final match between Celtic and FC Porto held on May 21, 2003 at the Estadio Olimpico in Seville, Spain. FC Porto won the match and trophy 3-2 after extra-time. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Speaking to the BBC, O’Neill looked back on Celtic’s emphatic 3-0 win in the Glasgow Derby and reckons that the events at Paradise the other night will go straight into the psyche, similar to his own Old Firm debut at Celtic Park against the now defunct Rangers FC (which went out of business in 2012 lest we forget) when he described them as the benchmark before putting six past them while conceding twice. And the current Ibrox manager played in that game for the old Rangers, did he not?

O’Neill reckons that Postecoglou has set the stage for a very successful time as Celtic manager and believes that the Australian can go on and achieve similar success to that enjoyed by the Irishman two decades ago where he won three titles and took the club to our third European final, the first since 1970.

“There is absolutely no reason why he shouldn’t do that,” Martin O’Neill said. “It’s very difficult not to be impressed by him. His whole manner and the way he went about his business after a very difficult start.

“He had to answer a lot of questions at the time, perhaps because he wasn’t that well known. He had to try to stamp his own personality on it. That’s so important for a manager. When you are not getting early results, you need to stick with the principles you have and those things were important to him. That will stand him in brilliant stead.

“He mentioned before the game the difference in the side now, compared to the start of the season. It’s like day and night. Hopefully that will sustain. Now they are on, it’s a matter of keeping going but the confidence won’t disappear overnight.

“I’d like to re-emphasise just how massive that (beating theRangers) is getting to the real business end of the season. I know it’s early February and I know there’s a lot of points to play for – that’s exactly how (the)Rangers will look at it.

“There’s still big games ahead, obviously they have to play each other again. You talk about a confidence boost and not just that, the manner of the victory as well. All of those things go straight into the psyche, and you really couldn’t ask for better.

(the)Rangers are now feeling down that they’ve been caught suddenly when they thought they had a really reasonable lead and there’s Celtic topping the table in the first week in February.”

Did you miss Sandman’s Definitive Ratings yesterday? If so do yourself a favour…

DON’T MISS SANDMAN…Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Calmac of the Opera

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor David Faulds has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

1 Comment

  1. Cant see sevco getting over heartless performance three players subbed well taken off cause they weren’t up for the challenge they three players willmhave no confidence in manager cause he has none in them now has to sort out there main striker who goes in a huff after every transfer he’s still there