Martin O’Neill praises ‘fantastic’ Auchinleck Talbot as transfer questions dodged | OneFootball

Martin O’Neill spoke to the match broadcaster Premier Sports following Celtic’s turgid 2-0 victory over Auchinleck Talbot last night….

Celtic Manager Martin O’Neill arrives at the ground ahead of the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Auchinleck Talbot and Celtic at Rugby Park on January 18, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

After that he spoke to the mainstream media. Here is everything that was said at the Celtic manager’s post match media conference…

Celtic players huddle during the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Auchinleck Talbot and Celtic at Rugby Park on January 18, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Q: Martin, what did you make of your team’s performance?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, we weren’t fantastic. We never seemed to be comfortable enough with a lot of possession. We weren’t able to break the team down often enough, and when we did create some chances, we missed them. But, obviously, delighted with the win and it’s the start of a big week for us.”

Q: You obviously made 10 changes. What were your thoughts behind that? Do you think that contributed to the team lacking a spark?

Martin O’Neill: “I’m sure of it, yeah. I probably wasn’t really surprised about it. But there were a couple of things about it. One, I wanted to change the side around because there were a couple of players that had not played under me at this time that I’d like to have seen, and I did do. And I think making changes like that there does disrupt the flow of things. So we saw that one through, and it was good. And, obviously, the preparation at the start of the week ahead.”

Johnny Kenny of Celtic celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Auchinleck Talbot and Celtic at Rugby Park on January 18, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Q: You may be looking for a bit more from the guys who came in and played under you for the first time today?

Martin O’Neill:“Well, I think players, when they feel this is an opportunity for them to play, can get a little bit nervous about things. So, I probably wasn’t surprised by what I’d seen. And we, as a team, could do a lot better. But we saw it through. Well, we saw it through in the sense that we had a lot of possession in the game. And the second goal obviously finishes it.”

Michel-Ange Balikwisha of Celtic warms up during the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Auchinleck Talbot and Celtic at Rugby Park on January 18, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Q: Michel-Ange Balikwisha made his first start since September. How do you reflect on his performance?

Martin O’Neill: “He did okay. He did alright in the game, yes. He was striving for a start for quite some considerable time, so he got it. And I know Paulo Bernardo played under Wilfried Nancy a couple of times. It was his first start under me as well. So, at least Paulo got the 90 minutes, and Balikwisha got most of the game.”

Luke Main of Auckinleck Talbot has a shot at goal during the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Auchinleck Talbot and Celtic at Rugby Park on January 18, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Q: Martin, what was your view on your opponents today?

Martin O’Neill: “I thought they did great. They did really, really great. We’d watched them before. It’s the lovely thing about modernity now, you are able to see opposition. And they play with a lot of spirit. A lot of spirit. The manager’s done wonderfully well. He’s been here since my first spell, apparently, way back! So, they played with a lot of spirit. I think they acquitted themselves really, really well, considering they’re a junior side.”

Johnny Kenny of Celtic celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Auchinleck Talbot and Celtic at Rugby Park on January 18, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Q: You mentioned it was a big week, Martin. Was it also a big week off the field for the team in order to get recruitment in?

Martin O’Neill: “Yes, it is, that is exactly right.”

Q: How much more confident do you feel after we spoke to you at Lennoxtown?

Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, but I said to you I would tell you at the next press conference, after this one!”

Green Brigade protest against the Celtic board during the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Auchinleck Talbot and Celtic at Rugby Park on January 18, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Q: You want to enlighten the fans?

Martin O’Neill:“Oh, they’re enlightening the fans. As if you’d really care about the fans! Yeah, we are very, very hopeful that we will get some people in.”

Q: Are you expecting anyone in before Hearts at the weekend?

Martin O’Neill: “We are very hopeful that we’ll get some people in, young man. Nice to see you. Gosh, I wish I’d get the old gang back. The lads who used to argue with me all the time. I want them back. Please, get them back.”

Auchinleck Talbot Goalkeeper William Muir dives for Sebastian Tounekti of Celtic’s shot but the ball flies past him during the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Auchinleck Talbot and Celtic at Rugby Park on January 18, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Q: Sorry to disappoint you.

Martin O’Neill: “No, you’re not disappointing me, young man. Not at all. You’re better looking than most of them anyway! Oh, they were some ugly boys. Honestly, I used to dread the Friday mornings. Just looking down. Mind you, I’m no oil painting myself. There we go.”

Q: We saw you at Motherwell yesterday. Was that a scouting mission?

Martin O’Neill: “That was a football mission. That’s part of my job, to look at the games, if I can get an opportunity. We did it after training.”

Celtic Manager Martin O’Neill at post-match media conference. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Q: Did anyone in particular impress you in that game? There’s a name that’s been mentioned a few times in connection with Celtic. Was there one in particular standing out?

Martin O’Neill: “I enjoyed the game. You lads, honestly. You’re testing me to the utmost.”

Q: Are you actively looking at the Scottish market?

Martin O’Neill: “I was asked that question last week. I think absolutely there are players here. There’s no doubt at all about it. There are players here that are capable of playing at a higher level. But it’s only my opinion.”

Q: Lots has been made of the striker situation but is there an obvious need for more guile as well?

Martin O’Neill: “Brilliant. Absolutely.”

Q: Is that a yes?

Martin O’Neill: “Brilliant.”

Celtic were drawn at home against Dundee in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup, with the draw taking place at Rugby Park last night.

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