Bologna v Celtic – “We’re going to go over there with no fear,” Colby Donovan

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The Celtic Star

·20 January 2026

Bologna v Celtic – “We’re going to go over there with no fear,” Colby Donovan

Young Hoops star Colby Donovan spoke to the mainstream media after Celtic’s Scottish Cup 4th round win over Auchinleck Talbot as the Celtic player’s attention turns to playing Bologna then Hearts in two hugely significant games in Celtic’s season…

Colby Donovan of Celtic making a pass during the Scottish Premiership match between Livingston and Celtic at Set Fare Arena on December 27, 2025. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Scottish Cup progression

“We done well at times in the first half,” Colby Donovan said after Celtic’s no nonsense 2-0 win over the Ayrshire side. The young Celtic star moved to the left-back area as Martin O’Neill made ten changes from the team that won at Falkirk last midweek, a result that looked even better by the weekend with John McGlynn in-form side going to Tynecastle and knocking Hearts out of the Scottish Cup.

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Donovan gave his assessment of the game, noting the one real scare Celtic got from Auchinleck Talbot with around a quarter of an hour on the clock.

Colby Donovan Auchinleck Talbot v Celtic, Scottish Cup 4th Round, Rugby Park. Sunday 18 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou ( The Celtic Star)

“The set-piece they got in the first 15-odd minutes kind of set us back. They put us into a hard game, but we’re through to the next round, so I don’t think there are any bad things to say about the game,” he said as reported by TCW.

Donovan continued: “We knew they’d set up well, but coming here away from home, we knew it was going to be a hard game. Auchinleck, they gave us some shift out there, and they also put in a great shift, but just to come here and go through to the next round is brilliant.”

On playing left-back to accommodate Anthony Ralston in his usual right-back slot, Donovan had no problem rising to the challenge, especially impressive as he seemed to be facing Talbot’s best player down that flank.

“It was good, it’s something new for me,” Donovan continued. “I’m normally playing right-back, and it’s just on the other side, so it’s something different that I need to take into my game. It’s better for me that I can play right-back and left-back, so getting the start out there at left-back, it was brilliant.”

Dundee in the 5th Round of Scottish Cup

Celtic reward for seeing off the lower league opponent on Sunday was to receive a home tie in the 5th Round of the Scottish Cup against Premiership side Dundee, with the match scheduled to be played next month. The full draw is as follows:

Callum McGregor the Celtic captain holds the Scottish Cup after the 2024 Scottish Cup Final win over theRangers at Hampden. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

Aberdeen v Motherwell?Airdrie v St Mirren?Celtic v Dundee?Dundee United v The Spartans?Dunfermline Athletic v Kelty Hearts?Elgin City v Partick Thistle?theRangers v Stranraer or Queen’s Park?Stenhousemuir v Falkirk

“It’s good it’s at home. We know Dundee are tough. Steven’s got them set up very well. We’ve seen that in the league recently, so for them coming to Celtic Park, we know it’ll be a tough game again, but we just need to dig in again.”

Playing for Martin O’Neill is a dream come true

Colby Donovan of Celtic Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 Sep 2025Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo Nikola Krstic Shutterstock

Martin O’Neill had left Celtic the year before Colby was born but he was well versed on the legendary Celtic manager thanks to his dad who was there to enjoy the wonderful success the Irishman achieved at the club at the first time of asking starting back in the summer of 2000.

Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill reacts during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 10, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“It’s a dream come true for me,” said Donovan of playing in a Martin O’Neill led Celtic side. “My dad used to tell me about the stories about Martin, and then for him to come in, and me to play under him, it’s just, well, words can’t describe it, to be honest.

“But he’s been brilliant with the boys, he’s been great since he came in, in his interim spell, and then for him coming back, it’s just brilliant,” he said.

Wilfried Nancy. Premier Sports Cup Final. 14 December 2025. St Mirren v Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

If only Wilfried Nancy had adopted a similar common sense approach, the league table would look very different today. Those who appointed such the Frenchman should themselves pay a hefty price at the end of this season, especially if Martin can’t salvage the league title. Here’s Colby explaining how MON succeeds by just keeping things simple.

“Since Martin’s come in, he’s just told us to play our game, play how we’ve played for the past years. So, he’s just come in, he’s given us a big confidence boost, and we just need to keep going now. We need to keep winning games.”

Replicating Feyenoord performance in Bologna

Players of Celtic pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Feyenoord and Celtic FC at De Kuip on November 27, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Next up is Celtic’s second match against Italian opposition in this season’s Europa League campaign and it’s fair to say that last time around against Roma at Celtic Park is a night to forget or for those who can’t it’s the stuff of nightmares and Nancy’s Kamakaze tactics were ripped to shreds as Roma collected the easiest win of their season. Put it this way, Auchinleck Talbot gave Celtic a tougher game at the weekend than Celtic gave Roma that night thanks to Wilfried Nancy.

Colby was asked if Celtic could repeat the trick in the previous away match in Europe, that time under Martin O’Neill when they went to Rotterdam and defeated Feyenoord 3-1.

Yang Hyun-Jun of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Feyenoord and Celtic FC at De Kuip on November 27, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

“Yeah, definitely. You saw it in Feyenoord, we played them off the pitch, and that’s what we’re going to try and do again, we’re going to go over there with no fear, play with confidence again, and hopefully get the three points.

“Belgrade was brilliant, even Feyenoord, going away there was brilliant. Just to get the start in Europe for the manager’s to put me in, in the starting 11, going over there and playing my game, putting on a show and picking up the point, I know we picked up the point in Belgrade, and in Feyenoord, the three points.

Colby Donovan of Celtic reacts after the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between Celtic FC and AS Roma at Celtic Park on December 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“But it’s brilliant, a confidence boost to go out in Europe, you’re playing against the top players, and to do well against them, that gives you a great confidence boost.”

Sunday Showdown at Tynecastle

Many Celtic supporters are concerned that yet again Celtic has a big European night, this time away from home too, before playing Hearts in the Scottish Premiership. Hopefully a few new arrivals, who won’t be eligible for the Bologna game will be available to contribute at Tynecastle.

“It’s huge, it’s probably the biggest week that we’ve had this season,” Donovan said as he looked ahead to the Sunday showdown. “We know it’s going to be tough, but we’re ready for it.”

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