“Amazing, brought really big energy to the team, and we’re winning games,” Calmac | OneFootball

Callum McGregor has praised Martin O’Neill’s backroom staff for turning around Celtic’s season in recent weeks…

Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney at Easter Road. Sunday 30 November 2025. Hibs v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Sunday’s 2-1 victory against Hibernian at Easter Road brought the Scottish champions closer to catching league leaders Hearts. Following a turbulent spell during the early parts of the season, interim boss Martin O’Neill has restored energy and belief throughout the squad.

The atmosphere surrounding the manager, squad and fans has surged to levels unimaginable only weeks earlier during the final days of Brendan Rodgers’ tenure. Celtic have gained momentum domestically and in the Europa League. Under O’Neill’s guidance, the team has secured six victories from his seven matches in charge.

Now, skipper McGregor believes he has seen Celtic regain both their edge and resilience and whatever lies ahead, O’Neill has helped the squad set aside any lingering doubt by focusing on what they excel at – winning games.

Speaking via TCW, McGregor said: “He’ll [O’Neill] take the game on Wednesday evening, so listen, we just keep playing football until someone tells us otherwise.”

Celtic at Easter Road, Sunday 30 November 2025. Hibs v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“He and Shaun [Maloney], and Foz [Mark Fotheringham], Gav [Strachan] and Mick [Stephen McManus] have done amazing, brought really big energy to the team, and we’re winning games, so ultimately everything’s okay. So we’ll take the game on Wednesday, we’ll recover, we’ll try to win that game as well, and then we’ll see what happens.

“I think Martin knows the club inside out. He knows the fabric of the club, the building, and he knows how to treat people with the little nuances that you need. He’s an outstanding manager and has shown that in this short spell, coming into a team that was struggling for form.

McGregor added: “I think he’s at six wins out of seven, so it shows you the turnaround in performances and victories, and he’s been outstanding. I think everyone has really enjoyed working with him.”

Celtic players discussing freekick options during the Premier League match between Hibernian and Celtic at Easter Road on November 30, 2025. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

“I think it’s so busy at the moment as we’ve got two-day recoveries and then playing the next day. The team are in good form, they’ve got good momentum, so ultimately as a football player, you just want to get back on the pitch, regardless of the manager situation. The guys have come in and done amazing, stabilised the place, have given the players big, big energy, so the players have responded.

“If you win games, it’s always good, so the players are enjoying it at the moment,” the 32 year-old continued. “We’ll just keep playing until we’re told otherwise. I think obviously our job in the building is to keep everyone level-headed, keep them calm when you’re winning games.”

Mark Fotheringham at Easter Road, Sunday 30 November 2025. Hibs v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“It’s the same when you’re losing games, you don’t get too low, so it’s pretty easy at the moment where everyone’s confidence is flying high, and the turnaround to the games is so quick that you barely get a chance to breathe, so you’re straight back in.

“The demand to win the next game, it doesn’t matter if you’ve won during the week, as the demand is to come here and win, and we’ve managed to do that, so we’ll enjoy it, start recovering again, and the same happens on Wednesday.”

Conor Spence

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