Perhaps the hacks were keen to kick Celtic fans or alternatively they could simply have been out of questions? Maybe they are missing the Celtic fan media’s questions which usually are better and gives them the best talking points? Who knows?
What we do know is that a rather bemused Benjamin Nygren was asked the same question TWICE at today’s media conference and with a puzzled look on his face the Celtic midfielder told the mainstream media journalist that he’d already answered his question before the media conference ended abruptly. Another bizarre moment in a very strange season for Celtic.
Here’s everything that was said as Benjamin Nygren talked about Wilfried Nancy’s departure, Martin O’Neill’s second return of the season and the need to start winning matches to close the gap on current leaders Hearts….
Q: Benjamin, it’s been another busy time here at Celtic with a managerial change. What’s it been like for you?
Benjamin Nygren: “Yes, that’s unfortunately how it is in football. Things move quickly. And when we haven’t got the results we wanted, this is what can happen.”
Q: In your short time as a Celtic player, you’ve had a number now of managerial change. How difficult is that?
Benjamin Nygren: “I think it’s not very usual. But I think from my own perspective, I’ve had many coaches in my career. So, for me personally, it hasn’t been that weird because I’ve had many managers in my career.”
Q: What is it about Martin O’Neill and his way and his staff’s way of working do you think that seems to suit this group of players in terms of getting results?
Benjamin Nygren: “Obviously Martin has been here before and knows the club so well and knows the standards here. He’s a massive legend in the club, has a good relationship with the fans, with the club. So he knows how it is to be here and what everyone demands of the club.”
Q: When it comes to Martin coming back in, do you think the players will be able to quickly revert back to his style of play? Because obviously the previous manager had tried to change things.
Benjamin Nygren: “Yes, I think so. Yes, we’ve had him before, not long ago. So, yes, I think as players we just try to get into it as fast as possible. And it’s been looking good in training with good intensity and stuff like that, so I feel good.”
Q: When there has been so much upheaval this season, how important is it for the players to have a period of stability? You’ll be hoping that maybe it will just be one manager from now until the end of the season and that you can just concentrate on on-the-field matters rather than everything else that’s been going on?
Benjamin Nygren: “Yes, us as players, even though we haven’t had the results we wanted, we still have tried to focus on performances and train well and implement the style that the previous coach wanted. We didn’t do it well enough, and that’s something that we need to take responsibility for. But now our focus is on the games ahead and to start winning games again.”
Q: Is there maybe a pride aspect for the players as well, that you want to go out and show that you are better than the results in the last eight games?
Benjamin Nygren: “Yes, of course, it’s not been good enough. When you play for Celtic, you need to win almost every game, and that’s what every player in the squad wants to do.”
Q: What was your reaction when you learned that Martin was coming back?
Benjamin Nygren: “Good, good. Like I said, he’s a massive legend and loved by everyone, I feel like, in the club, players, fans and everyone around the club. So, yes, it’s nice to have him back.”
Q: Is it quite a relief that the players know that they’re going to go back to a system that you seem comfortable with, but perhaps you may not have with Wilfried?
Benjamin Nygren: “Yes, but I still think, as players, that we didn’t implement the stuff he wanted good enough. So, I don’t think you can only blame one person at the end of the day. It’s the players on the field, and we need to take responsibility for that. But, like I said, now the focus is to try to come back as fast as possible and to start winning games.”
Q: Did you or any other players have a chance to say anything to Wilfried as he left?
Benjamin Nygren: “No.”
Q: Was it difficult last week, despite people blaming the manager and other things, but you see the pictures of you leaving Celtic Park as players, and there was quite a lot of shouting as well. Is that kind of hard to take as a player, and things that have spiralled out of control?
Benjamin Nygren: “Of course, that’s not what we want. We wanted to win the game so bad. We did very good in the first half, and then we didn’t do good at all in the second half. I’ve said it before, you can see it from so many perspectives, and that’s what makes the sport so big, football so big, that everyone cares so much, everyone has so much passion. I think personally that’s the beauty of the game. Sometimes it can be that kind of reaction, but that’s a part of the game. It’s about to take it, and look ahead.”
Q: You’ve had it the other way obviously, you’ve experienced the adulation of the fans as well, is that the key now, you can get that back on Saturday as well?
Benjamin Nygren: “Yeah, for sure. Like I said, to start as fast as possible to win games again, that’s what we have to do.”
Q: How do you view the title race?
Benjamin Nygren: “We know there are many games left, and we’ll do everything to chase them down.”
Q: Is the hurt from losing against Dundee United a few weeks ago still quite strong in the memory of the Celtic players? It was a game you guys dominated in the first half, yet you lost.
Benjamin Nygren: “Yeah, it’s not particularly that, we maybe think of. It’s in the past now, and we know we need to do better, and we will do better, and we have to win the games.”
Q: Do you hope the return of Martin not only unifies, keeps everyone on board in the dressing room, but also within the club as a whole?
Benjamin Nygren: “Yeah, like I said, Martin has been here before, he knows the club, he’s respected, loved by everyone in the club and around the club.”
Q: I can’t believe if could have been easy for the players last week when you left Celtic Park when some fans were showing their frustration at the fans when you were walking out.
Benjamin Nygren: “Yeah, I’ve already answered.”
LOL.
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That is what some of our players require in there bottoms .