“We’ve won, which is the most important thing,” Martin O’Neill

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The Celtic Star

·4 December 2025

“We’ve won, which is the most important thing,” Martin O’Neill

Martin O’Neill spoke to the media after his final game in charge of Celtic last night ended in a 1-0 victory over Dundee. Here is everything the legendary Hoops icon said…

3rd December 2025 Celtic Park, Scottish Premiership FCeltic versus Dundee Celtic interim manager Martin O Neill drags forward Celtic interim assistant manager Shaun Maloney to get acclaim at the end of his last match in charge. Photo David Young IMAGO

Q: Martin, you sign off with another victory tonight. It perhaps wasn’t the most swashbuckling of performances, but how would you assess the match?

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Martin O’Neill: “I felt as if we always needed not just the first goal, but the second goal, just to take anxiety away. We missed a number of great opportunities to do that, and then it becomes a nervy last 10 or 15 minutes where anything can happen.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic scores the opening goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee at Celtic Park on December 03, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

‘But overall, the players have been terrific. That’s the third game in six days, and they’re entitled to be a bit tired, especially after a strenuous night in Feyenoord. Going to Easter Road and winning, then coming here tonight — it might not have been swashbuckling, but if we’d got the second goal, it would’ve taken the shackles off us. But we’ve won, which is the most important thing.”

Q: You could sense some relief, adulation for you towards the end?

Martin O’Neill: “I agree with you — relief to win because it keeps us there. There’s been a huge boost of confidence in the side; they feel as if they can win. We were a bit loose at times, particularly in the first half with passes going astray. But I can give them excuses — third game in six days, still having to win under pressure. This club is all about winning.”

Q: A word for Daizen Maeda, very brave in scoring that opening goal, as was Arne Engels at the weekend. They have really put it on the line for you?

Daizen Maeda of Celtic scores the opening goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee at Celtic Park on December 03, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Martin O’Neill: “Absolutely. I said to Maeda and to Arne, ‘I wouldn’t have headed that. I wouldn’t have gone for it.’ There’s no point in me changing now from being a complete coward. They were great — Maeda very brave tonight, as was Arne on Sunday.”

Q: I spoke to you on the pitch and asked you to sum up the moment, but now that you’ve gathered your thoughts a little, how do you feel having walked off the pitch again now?

3rd December 2025 Celtic Park, Scottish Premiership , Celtic versus Dundee. Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill waves to the crowd at the end of his last match in charge Photo IMAGO David Young

Martin O’Neill: “The reception I got was fantastic, but the backroom staff have been sensational. And the game is still about players — they’ve turned up and won the matches. We’ve had serious injuries to major players, but others have stepped up every single time. We got a lesson in physicality in Midtjylland, but to fight back in Feyenoord after going a goal behind speaks volumes for the players.”

Q: And Wilfried Nancy will step into the role going forward. What would your message to him be about these players you’ve worked with?

Martin O’Neill: “I don’t really have a message for him — I’ve been saying that all week. If he asks for my view of the players, I’ll gladly give it, but the last thing you want is to tell another manager what to do. What he’ll get is a team brimming with confidence, wanting to play for the club. Everything else about the place is fantastic.”

Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill at full time during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee at Celtic Park on December 03, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Q: Well, I think what you described was in no small part thanks to you, Martin. And I think the Celtic fans would like me to thank you once again for everything you’ve done.

Martin O’Neill: “Thank you. I’ve had the time of my life in the last four or five weeks. I’ll disappear now, but it’s five or six weeks I’ll never, ever forget.”

Conor Spence

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