“Once you hear the music you know it’s a different level,” Martin O’Neill | OneFootball

Martin O’Neill spoke to the media after last night’s impressive 3-0 victory over Austrian Champions LASK in the first leg of the Champions League Play-off at Celtic Park…

Martin O’Neill, Celtic 3 LASK 0, Champions league Playoff, Celtic Park, 19 August 2026.

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Thoughts on tonight’s game?

Martin O’Neill: “I thought there were periods where we played some really fantastic stuff, there were periods where they played some fantastic stuff. It was really like a basketball game, particularly in the first half. We rode a little bit of luck. They had a great shot in the first minute, just marginally offside. They had a great chance just a moment or two after that, so they started the brighter.

“And it took us time to get going, but when we did then we scored. Great goal by Benjamin Nygren to take a bit of pressure off, give us the lead. And then Duran’s two goals were fantastic. The game was absolutely in the balance.

Q: The tie still isn’t over?

Martin O’Neill: “I didn’t even have to say it in the dressing room to the players. They know, they absolutely know this. I think that what we are, I think we’ve shown, I think we’re capable of scoring, which we probably would need to do. But yeah, they are a fine side. I’m not playing it down at all. I just think that this game, as I said, their goals were just fantastic. I mean, good enough to win any football match, but yeah, we’ve got a long way to go yet.”

Camilo Duran of Celtic scores his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 play-offs first leg match between Celtic and LASK at Celtic Park on August 19, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Camilo Duran really coming into his own tonight?

Martin O’Neill:  “He was exceptional. Really exceptional, I said to him. He’s been fantastic for us since he’s arrived at the football club. And his goals were terrific, his play was great. His running back, helping full backs, helping Colby out on a number of occasions. It was just a magnificent performance. He’s going to be a really, really good player.”

Benjamin Nygren of Celtic scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 play-offs first leg match between Celtic and LASK at Celtic Park on August 19, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Can you remember being involved in a game that had three goals of such a high standard?

Martin O’Neill:  “No, probably not for some time. There’s always important goals, but sometimes an important goal is just somebody tapping over the line. But these goals were magnificent. Nygren’s form at the start of the season has been terrific as well too. And I thought he was brilliant for us tonight.”

Q: Did you get a real feeling from that performance that that was a real Champions League level performance that your team showed tonight?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, I genuinely think that we can improve. We can improve in the sense that I think that will bring us on in terms of fitness as much as anything else. Really strong game. Had to be at it almost every single minute. But overall, I thought the defending was strong. I thought Viljami Sinisalo did really great. Made a big save for us at 2-0. It goes 2-1 and they’re in the ascendancy at that stage.

“So, lots of things happened during the course of the game. Can’t probably take it all in. But when I analyse it again, I think like the rest of the staff, and I’m sure the supporters think this is far from over.”

Camilo Duran of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 play-offs first leg match between Celtic and LASK at Celtic Park on August 19, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Martin, I know you weren’t manager 12 months ago, but when you compare the feeling inside the ground tonight to that in Kazakhstan a year ago, or perhaps even when you first took over in your first interim spell, how different does it feel and how united does this club feel now?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, I think that definitely there was a great atmosphere. Just in the first couple of minutes, even before the game started, the noise was incredible. And then, of course, we were taken aback a little bit by the start that they made. And I think the crowd realised very, very quickly, we’re in for an evening here. There was some great football played by both teams, I felt.

“And it is nice, actually, to go and have some goals scored. I think that’s what we’re capable of doing, as I’ve just mentioned. But again, it was a tough night.”

Camilo Duran of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 play-offs first leg match between Celtic and LASK at Celtic Park on August 19, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: First start for Mika Baur tonight as well, home debut for him, just how impressed were you by his performance?

Martin O’Neill: “He did really fine. It was a tough game to throw him into, I must admit. But he conducted himself pretty well.”

Q: You mentioned, Martin, that there’s more to come from this team. How exciting is that for you?

Martin O’Neill: “I think that when you reach a proper level of fitness, I think that we can do it. The problem with sometimes, as I’ve known this in the past, when we’ve had to play, way back, 20-odd years ago, when we had to play Champions League qualifying games, you were worried about just the start of the season. Sometimes you were playing away for teams that were already halfway through their own season, or at least maybe 10 games into it. I felt that those games were always tough.

“Tonight, that was a consideration. I know we’ve had a number of games, we’ve played three before this, but it’s just… I think once you hear the music, you just feel it’s a different level.”

Camilo Duran of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 play-offs first leg match between Celtic and LASK at Celtic Park on August 19, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: In terms of your recruitment as well, Martin, there’s been a lot of money spent on that attacking area of the pitch? Does this kind of night show you that when you pay the big money, you get the big players in, that can grow a team and take you to where you want to go?

Martin O’Neill: “I think that whatever we paid for Duran, I think he has paid his ticket by now. He’s only entered his fourth game. So I don’t think it was an awful lot of money when you consider some of the fees that they’re talking about for the Premier League. I think he’s a real bargain. Four and a half million or something like that there. Centre-forward has given us a bit of presence there, which I don’t think we had last year, despite Daizen Maeda probably winning the league for us single-handedly.”

Q: I know you’re not going to count your chickens just yet, but you are on the cusp of another big financial windfall?

Martin O’Neill: “Honestly, I do not want to play it down. It would be lovely, but I think we are a long way from that. Genuinely, next Tuesday will be a major test for us.”

Q: Do you still see that there will be more money pumped into this team? There will be more faces coming in?

Martin O’Neill: “We are on the plus side in terms of money at this minute, and probably the number of players that have left, I think in terms of the wage budget and things like that. So we’re actually in the plus.

“I think that regardless of what happens next Tuesday night, I think we’ve still got European football. I think then, and while it has been mentioned yesterday, that Champions League football is a big carrot for a lot of players, and that would be nice, I still think that hopefully we will get somebody in to augment the squad for European football anyway.”

Colby Donovan of Celtic is challenged by George Bello of LASK during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 play-offs first leg match between Celtic and LASK at Celtic Park on August 19, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: There’s been a lot of talk about young Scots not getting a chance in first teams, but obviously Colby Donovan took his opportunity tonight?

Martin O’Neill: “He did great. He really did great. He’s got a big, big heart, and that’s nice to see. Really nice to see. He’s a local lad as well too, and loves it. Loves the football club, loves playing. His enthusiasm is boundless. He stuck to his task brilliantly tonight. He just goes for it. He’s always trying to improve his game, trying to improve his first touch, things like this here. But overall, I don’t think you can compensate for the heart that he has.”

Q: Is there clarity as to the length of time Alistair Johnson may indeed be out for?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, funnily enough, I think he’s actually doing a scan tomorrow, so we might have some idea then. So by the time I meet up with you again, we should have an idea.”

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