Emotional Celtic boss 'in dreamland' after historic Euro farewell as he side-steps Rangers selection headache claim
The Celtic boss has swerved suggestions he could face a selection headache going into Sunday’s Old Firm clash vs Rangers
Martin O’Neill bid an emotional farewell to European football after leading Celtic to their first-ever on German soil and insists he he would have no qualms about throwing some of his fringe men in from the start against Rangers on Sunday.
The Scottish champions are locked in a four-way battle for the Premiership crown and will head into this weekend’s pivotal Old Firm fixture at Ibrox knowing a defeat could be curtains for their title defence.
They will head across the city in buoyant mood, though, after a morale-boosting 1-0 win away to VfB Stuttgart in their Europa League knockout play-off tie. Despite exiting the competition by a 4-2 aggregate scoreline, it was still a night to savour for O’Neill and his players.
Midfielder Luke McCowan - one of eight changes made by O’Neill to the starting line-up - scored the only goal of the match after just 28 seconds, with a number of other second-string stars showing up well.
O’Neill: European football ‘is what it’s all about’
Quizzed on whether it would be a potential headache to throw some of Celtic’s back-up players in at the deep end against Rangers on the back of this performance, O’Neill responded: “No, it wouldn’t be a headache... More a selection choice.
“There will be twists and turns (in title race), we have to go to Ibrox which we know is going to be a very difficult game for us, then we have to go up to Aberdeen, then we go back to Ibrox again.
“We’ve created this situation for ourselves by progressing in European football. At the end of it all, that’s what you want to do. European football id what big clubs in Scotland should be aiming for, not for the coefficient points to be dropping out of sight. It’s ridiculous. This is what it’s all about.”
Celtic exit Europa League with their heads held high
On his side’s resilient performance, the 73-year-old told TNT Sports: “The first leg got away from us and we gave away some soft goals, but tonight was a brilliant backs-to-the-wall performance.
“We still had chances in the game, and almost gave them a nervy few minutes for what I consider a very good team, a team capable of winning this competition. He (Sinisalo) played brilliantly, really well. That’s the name all round the dressing room. He’s got plenty of talent.
“Tonight, we made some changes. Some were enforced, played stepped up to the plate but we didn’t throw in two 16-year-olds... these boys have played in the team and have shown they’re capable of winning games.”
Asked if he will miss European football if this is to be his final experience, an emotional O’Neill replied: “Of course, I’ll miss it until they are putting a brown lid on top of me. I’m in dreamland just to get the opportunity again.”