Under Martin O’Neill, Celtic’s title aspirations are back in safe hands

Who’d have thought it, playing players in their natural positions in a system they know works pays dividends. Whose idea was it to change that to play crazy Kamikaze football? They should own it and do the honourable thing…

A four goal win, a clean sheet and an overall dominant performance against a Dundee United side who beat us just a short few weeks ago. Yes, the nightmare of Wilfred Nancy is finally over as we once again resembled a competent side under the leadership of Martin O’Neill.

Who’d have thought utilising players in their natural positions, and having some sort of organisation would pay dividends eh?

From the first whistle it was evident to everyone in the stands that we looked more compact and secure, with the players looking much more confident than in recent weeks, and it set the tone for a comfortable afternoon as we strolled to a well deserved victory, roared on by a boisterous and more upbeat Celtic support.

Liam Scales and Auston Trusty where rocks in the centre of defence yet again, whilst new Bhoy Julian Araujo looked the part at right back, with Kieran Tierney equally as competent on the left side. Even Kasper Schmeichel looked assured throughout the game, with his distribution looking significantly better than it has been in recent weeks under Wilfried Nancy when he’d look up and struggle to see a defender in sight.

In midfield Callum McGregor was excellent and looked every inch the leader we all know he is, and Reo Hatate while not on top form looked a more creative outlet. Also Arne Engels, who scored the second goal, rediscovered the form he showed under Martin O’Neill last time out. It won’t be long until Reo gets back to his best.

Yang, who can be seen as the only positive during the short Wilfried Nancy era, opened the scoring and was his lively self throughout, which resulted in the South Korean being deservedly named player of the match. No arguments there but here was also a case for Celtic’s wideman on the other side of the attack.

Sebastian Tounekti, back after Afcon duty, was a constant threat during his time on the pitch, and Daizen Maeda who looked rather quiet truth be told, still put in his usual hard shift and showed great instincts to score the fourth goal, although he had other chances that he’d have taken on another day.

There’s still work to be done, and a couple of new additions to be added, in particular a centre forward, but things are looking up now we have a competent coaching staff. Much to our relief and also our delight.

Celtic play Falkirk in midweek with three points essential. Before that we’ll watch Dundee v Hearts than Aberdeen v theRangers this afternoon to see if there’s any upsets. Dundee are on a decent run so there’s some hope of an early Albert Kidd moment but managerless Aberdeen were dreadful on Tuesday night at Ibrox in the first game of their double header.

Any favours today would be appreciated but essentially it’s now down to the finest team in Scotland to prove that’s still the case and keep winning matches from here until the title is won. It’s in our own hands and post-Nancy we are once again back in the safe hands of Martin O’Neill. God bless him!

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

READ Martin O’Neill’s transfer window warning for Celtic Board on the next page…

Martin O’Neill has warned that Celtic risk finding themselves in a precarious position if reinforcements are not secured during the January window and further injury problems emerge…

O’Neill – back in charge for a second temporary spell this campaign – has repeatedly stressed the need for additions to bolster the squad.

Although right-back Julian Araujo made his first start in yesterday’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Dundee United after arriving prior to O’Neill’s return, the 73 year-old believes recruitment must continue in multiple areas. He acknowledged that the current group lacks depth and could quickly become stretched should injuries mount.

When questioned again on whether he expects new arrivals to be completed imminently, O’Neill responded via Sky Sports: “Yeah, I am hopeful that we are going to get some people in. But just when you think that something might happen, things change around.”

“Listen, it’s not me filibustering. It’s just me feeling that until they’re over the line, I can’t come up and say that it’s happened.”

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🗣️ “The whole team were terrific today”
🗣️ “We have to be up for it [title fight] 🗣️ “We need bolstering and the people to come in and help the players”

Martin O’Neill has his say on Celtic’s win over Dundee United ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/FJ0ZCCYJ77

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 10, 2026

O’Neill added: “We obviously need to do it, even just to give help to the boys at present at the minute. Because this week, the week that’s just gone in, was the only week that we have had, since I’ve come to the football club, we have had a free week.”

“And from here on in, we go right through now to I don’t know how long, because we’re going midweek each time. So there’ll be no respite. If we pick up injuries to really key players here, we could be in serious trouble.”

O’Neill maintained that yesterday afternoon’s win has done little to alter the club’s recruitment priorities, reiterating that fresh additions remain essential, as he said: “Oh, it’s not changed to me. Not at all. We need some people in.”

“And we are, honestly, we are working on it. It doesn’t seem as if you believe me, but we’re actually working on it.”

Conor Spence

READ Jim Goodwin’s thoughts on Celtic under Martin O’Neill on the next page…

“The atmosphere in here was a lot better than what it was a week prior,” Jim Goodwin

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin has given his verdict following his side’s 4-0 defeat to Celtic yesterday afternoon as Celtic ultras tell Michael Nicholson to own his failures and resign…

Strikes from Yang, Arne Engels, Benjamin Nygren and Daizen Maeda capped a convincing afternoon for Martin O’Neill as he marked a memorable return to the Celtic Park touchline.

The result lifted Celtic back ahead of theRangers and to within three points of table-toppers Hearts, who are both in action today, while also drawing a line under the disastrous 33-day spell under the hapless Wilfried Nancy, who was Michael Nicholson’s first choice pick to replace elite level manager Brendan Rodgers.

Those Celtic supporters who didn’t reckon Rodgers was an elite level manager got a 33-day lesson in what a coach NOT at that level really looks like. Yesterday the Celtic ultras, a mixture of Bhoys Celtic and Green Brigade had this message shown below for the Celtic CEO relating to his appointment of Wilfried Nancy.

For Dundee United, it’s back-to-back defeats and remain seventh in the Premiership on 25 points after 22 matches played.

Tangerines boss Goodwin gave his thoughts after a disappointing day at Celtic Park: “We always knew today’s fixture was going to be difficult,” he said via The Herald.

“We know the quality Celtic have got but obviously the change in management has given the players and home supporters a real lift because the atmosphere in here was a lot better than what it was a week prior.”

Goodwin added: “They’re playing a formation and a system that the players are familiar with, and one that suits the squad they’ve got. When you come here you know you’re going to be starved of possession at times and you have to really show a bit of resilience in and around your penalty area and I think today there’s lots of areas within the goals we’ve conceded we could’ve done a lot better. When you give Celtic a two goal advantage it becomes a mountain to climb.”

“When you come here you have to do the basics well defensively, at times you need your goalkeeper to make saves and when you get half chances you’ve got to be clinical and take them, we couldn’t do that today.”

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🟢 Celtic produced a dominant performance to beat Dundee Utd 4-0, as Martin O’Neill returned to the dugout again ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/8pIY1SQ3lN

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 10, 2026

Reflecting Julian Araujo’s tackle on Will Ferry in the first half which resulted in a yellow card for the Mexican, Goodwin commented: “I thought the Celtic defender was a little bit out of control.”

“Will Ferry took a real sore one, VAR seemed to skim over it pretty quickly so if they’re satisfied with it then it’s fine.”

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🗣️ “Coming to Celtic Park at the best of times is never easy”
🗣️ “The goals, all four of them, are very avoidable”
🗣️ “We have to move on now”

Jim Goodwin reflects on Dundee United’s loss away to Celtic ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/xRYadhy7R5

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 10, 2026

Conor Spence

All Books Now Half Price in the Celtic Star Books January Sale…

Please note that p&p is priced at £4.50 is only charged on ONE book so you can buy as many of our books as you like and the postage cost will remain the same. Why not expand your Celtic library today?

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