Martin O'Neill echoes thoughts of Celtic star amid tactical question as Arsenal cup upset used to make point
Hoops have been question tactically of late with duo playing out of position
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill ‘totally’ agrees with captain Callum McGregor that the side aren’t playing attacking duo Camilo Duran and Callum Osmand in their preferred positions.
The pair started on the flanks in Celtic’s 2-2 draw at home to Dundee United to accommodate number nine Kasper Hogh. However, O’Neill acknowledges that both Duran and Osmand would be of better use through the middle themselves. Ahead of Celtic’s trip to Falkirk on Sunday, it’s a situation the manager feels they need to ‘sort out’ sooner rather than later.
As Rangers also drew 2-2 during the week with Hearts, Celtic missed the opportunity to extend the gap on their title rivals. However, as they head to FK2 this weekend, a win would definitely see them go seven point clear, as Rangers face Aberdeen in the League Cup instead.
O’Neill echoes McGregor’s concerns
After the Dundee United clash, the captain explained his worries about trying to shoehorn both their striker into the team out wide. Ahead of the Falkirk clash, O’Neill heard the comments for the first time. To which he reacted: "I totally agree (with McGregor) that Callum Osmand is actually really a centre forward, I've said this at the press conference, that he is essentially a centre forward.
Duran has been chopped and changed from the right to the middle on countless occasions since the start of the season. In the United clash, he was moved mid-game into the number nine role as Hogh was taken off. However, O’Neill admitted he would like his team to get more settled.
He continued: "He probably would play off somebody strong alongside him, I'm not so sure that he could lead the line on his own. And that Camilo Duran is really a centre forward, so the players are getting to know each other, it's as really simple as that there, so I'm in total agreement with Callum."
What did O’Neill say about the Fleetwood vs Arsenal pitch invasion?
It was Osmand who scored the famous goal last season which won Celtic the title against Hearts. As he dribbled the length of the pitch to find the empty net, waves and waves of Hoops fans ran onto the pitch in celebration, which some claim went too far. O’Neill at the time refused to condemn the actions of the Hoops supports, claiming pitch invasions are a product of the emotion of the game.
Following Fleetwood Town’s heroic penalty shootout victory over English champions on Tuesday night in the EFL Cup, supporters also ran onto the pitch in celebration. O’Neill used this as an example to further pitch his point that it’s part of the game.
He added: “I noticed there was a pitch invasion there at Fleetwood. Did you see it? That was considered an iconic moment in the game. Remarkable. What I did say at the end of the season was that there'll be, I'm quite sure in my lifetime, there'll be another pitch invasion which will be taken in a different manner. That's exactly what's happening.”