“Arguing with fourth officials, it’s just right up my street,” Martin O’Neill | OneFootball

Martin O’Neill and his Celtic squad were back to Lennoxtown today despite travelling back to Glasgow from Bologna after last night’s 2-2 draw at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara which takes Celtic’s qualification hope onto the last round of group stage fixtures in the Europa League next Thursday night when Celtic welcome Utrecht to Paradise.

The stadium ahead ofUEFA Europa League 2025/26 League  match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Before that there is the not inconsiderable matter of a title redeeming opportunity against a Hearts side whose manager Derek McInnes that got the better of both Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy in the two earlier fixtures in this season’s Scottish Premiership. A Martin O’Neill side you would expect, even with tired legs after last night, will be an entirely different kettle of fish for Hearts to contend with.

After training today Martin O’Neill spoke to the broadcast media with no fan media present yet again as Celtic ‘review’,  their insincere euphemism for a ban, continues. All we did was ask questions, the entire purpose of any media going a media conference.

Here’s everything that was said as Martin O’Neill gave his assessment of the trip to Tynecastle on Sunday afternoon…

Martin O’Neill head coach of Celtic FC during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Q: Martin, how was the feel-good factor after digging out a nice result last night when you came into work the next day?

Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, it’s always a great feeling. The performance was terrific, the result was really fine. I think my own view, I can’t say for certain, but I think if we had stayed with 11 men the way we were playing at the time, I think we might have taken all three points. It wasn’t to be. Backs to the wall, certainly in the second half, and it was just a terrific effort. We’re still in the competition, we’ve a game on Thursday, and we’ll try and win that if we can. But that’ll come Thursday, the big match is on Sunday.”

Big screen at Tynecastle. Hearts v Celtic, 26 October 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: I suppose if there is a downside it would be the physical output that went into the second half in particular. How is everyone, particularly with that big game around the corner?

Martin O’Neill: “We’re fine. Johnny Kenny’s picked up a bit of a calf strain, and we’ll see how it is now. I think he’s gone for some sort of scans this afternoon, but we’ll see. He might be a doubt, I’m not sure, but he just said he felt it during the course of the time he was on. Hopefully, other than that, we’re ready to go.”

Johnny Kenny of Celtic and Nicolo Casale of Bologna, Bologna v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Renato Dall Ara Stadium, Bologna, Italy – 22 January 2026. Photo Michael Zemanek Shutterstock

Q: Quick transitional period for your new striker (Tomas Cvancara), did he train today? What’s that integration looking like with a view to the weekend?

Martin O’Neill: “He trained yesterday with the B lads, and he trained this morning, and he’s ready to go.”

Q: Extra, I guess, reliance on that, if Johnny is injured in a department that’s maybe already light?

Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, I wouldn’t want to put too much pressure on him. He’s not just going to be the panacea for all our ills and woes and stuff like that. Just let him get settled in, I think he’ll make an impact, I hope he does. But again, I just wouldn’t want to put extreme pressure on him to solve all our problems.

Q: How has he (Tomas Cvancara) settled?

Martin O’Neill: “He looks OK, he’s done fine, he’s here, he has a partner and child at this minute, so they’re hoping to try and get settled in here in Glasgow as soon as possible. But he’s making a commitment, he wants to play well, he obviously wants to do well with us, and maybe as a consequence, he gets himself back into the Czech Republic team.”

Q: Could he start on Sunday?

Martin O’Neill: “He could start on Sunday, yeah.”

Q: When will you make that decision, is it after training tomorrow?

Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, we train tomorrow.”

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Q: How is Kelechi Iheanacho? I understand he was training today?

Martin O’Neill: “He trained today, yes, I think that might be his second day. He didn’t travel with us, but he’s been doing some training. And he did fine today, I’m glad to see him back, that helps us if that’s the case. It might be a bit of a stretch to start him in a game at the moment, but at least he’s going to be available.”

Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic celebrates scoring during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park, on 5th October 2025 Photo by Mark Runnacles IMAGO /Shutterstock

Q: How do you view the game on Sunday in terms of the title race? Many people say it could be pivotal for your hopes of retaining the title…

Martin O’Neill: “It’s going to be very big, no question about it. If we get beat, it’s a long way back for us. It is a bit of a trek at the minute. We would go out to try and win the game if we can. It’s not the end of the road but nine points would be a lot to claw back with the games left.”

Q: It could be a nine point deficit if you lose. Would you be trying to avoid defeat rather than go for the win?

Martin O’Neill: “I don’t think that’s in our nature. If you look at last night, the way we started the game, we closed the players down. We scored a goal from closing players down. So we went to take the game to Bologna. What’s the point in sitting back? Obviously as the game goes on, we get a man sent off. The second half, we had to retreat. They drove us back, as you would expect. Very, very fine side. It was all hands to the pump. But that’s the way the game goes. But for us, we will be as positive as we possibly can. And we’ll try and win. And if we can’t win it, we’ll try and save it.”

Callum McGregor shakes hands with Derek McInnes after the match at Tynecastle. Hearts v Celtic, 26 October 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: In terms of Tomas, you mentioned you didn’t want to put too much pressure on him. But is there a confidence in you that should he be called upon to start or make an impact on Sunday that he can?

Martin O’Neill: “I think that’s the case. That’s why we’ve taken him on. Yes, I think he naturally wants to do well. And we want him to do well, very selfishly for ourselves, but obviously for him. I think he’s capable of doing it. It’s on the field, it counts.

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Q: What have you made of how Derek McInnes has gone about his business at Hearts?

Martin O’Neill: “Terrific. It’s really been brilliant. It’s a really great, great season for them. I was going to say they’ve taken advantage of Celtic and Rangers slip-ups, but that’s not the case. They’ve driven on themselves. They’ve done it, and it’s genuinely great credit to them.”

Callum McGregor arrives at Tynecastle. Hearts v Celtic, 26 October 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Q: I wonder, going into this one, who your favourites for the title are at the moment?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, let me put it this way. I wish we were going into this game six points in front.”

Q: Do you anticipate any more new faces coming in before Sunday?

Martin O’Neill: “I would hardly think before Sunday, but we’ve got the other week then, and I’m still very hopeful that we’ll get some people in.”

Martin O’Neill salutes the travelling Celtic support after the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Q: How’s the juggling act of getting teams prepared, looking at opposition, but then obviously going into the last week having to knuckle down with the transfers? How’s that been for you and the team?

Martin O’Neill: “For me and the coaches here, it is a bit of a juggling act, I must admit. We’re trying to concentrate on the games ahead, which is the most important thing. Still thinking about trying to get players into the football club, players that we think can help. I think I said in a previous interview, you could add another 15 players to the squad that might not improve it one jot. So you’re trying to look for that wee bit of quality, trying to get value for money, if that’s the case. All of those particular things go into it. And I must admit, it wasn’t something I was thinking about on the 1st of January. It really wasn’t. Welcoming in the new year, I had a brilliant Hogmanay, even though it wasn’t in Edinburgh.”

Martin O Neill, manager of Celtic reacts after the match Bologna v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Group Stage, Renato Dall Ara Stadium, Bologna, Italy – 22 January 2026. Photo Michael Zemanek Shutterstock

Q: I can imagine you miss the thrill of winning games, being on the touchline, because that seems enjoyable. Is it enjoyable to try and navigate a transfer window?

Martin O’Neill: “The transfer window, I thought you were going to ask me if I enjoy the football matches. No, I haven’t enjoyed that for 30 years. But yeah, I do, of course I miss the game, absolutely. It’s a pleasure, sometimes a dubious one, but it’s a real pleasure to be back and doing something that you actively loved in many aspects and missed. And just to be on the touchline, arguing with fourth officials, it’s just right up my street.”

Tynecastle. Hearts v Celtic, 26 October 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: What are your memories of Tynecastle from your first spell? Is that like a bear pit for games like these?

Martin O’Neill: “I think so, yeah. It has a great, great atmosphere. It’s fiery, it’s great. I think I used to say here, outside Ibrox, it was the most intimidating place to go. And I think it will be a wonderful atmosphere.

Q: In your experience, Martin, when you have these top-of-the-table tussles and you do get the win, psychologically, in your experience, what does that do, not only for yourself, but for the opposition as you look ahead to the run in?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, I think the recent games for us, we chopped and changed the side, and that was down to me for the Scottish Cup match. And then we come up with a big performance here. So the players are in good spirits. And I take your point entirely about the length of time that you have between travelling home last night, getting in early morning, and getting up again for the game. They’ll be up for the game. And that’s maybe a time where substitutions might play their part. But yeah, it’s really exciting.”

Watch Martin O’Neill’s Media Conference below and if you’ve not read Sandman’s Definitive Ratings from last night’s match in Bologna they’re on the next page…

Celtic FC line up during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Lasagne v Celtic

Kasper Schmeichel of Celtic celebrates. Bologna v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Group Stage, Football, Renato Dall Ara Stadium, Bologna, Italy – 22 January 2026. Photo Michael Zemanek IMAGO/Shutterstock

THE FRIENDLY GHOST – 8/10 – Made for him. All the experience and nous required to get us through the test of the season; pulled off some terrific stops, batting one away late on with a contemptuous fist like Lego Thanos, “Get Lost”. No chance with the goals, particularly the second which was the only time his bodyguards let him down by leaving inviting spaces. Kasper will have relished this one, moreso for his own measure with the World Cup on the horizon – does he still have it to face up to the intensity at top level? Yes. Definitively. Haters gonna seethe.

KATIE – 7.5/10 – A dogged marvel, he’s become. Injury has taken its toll over the years and this KT is not the dynamic Bhoy of his youth. But his time at the top has stiffened his resolve for stringent examinations of his overall capabilities like last night. To be honest, it looked dire as their trickiest customer with the acceleration of a coked-up cheetah found a lot of early joy down KT’s wing. But he didn’t fold. He got to grips, got closer, used his wits. Second-half he tucked in with the centre backs when Bolt Junior went central, and joined in the Spartan heroics.

OF JUSTICE – 8.5/10 – The Wicklow Wonder, the Banrdarigg Beckenbauer, the Ginger Baresi – all fanciful nomenclatures bestowed with no little irony… But Liam continues to have the last laugh by living up to those hallowed titles with performances like this. Nary a foot put wrong when one inch out of synch would invite disaster. If you can’t see the acute positional instinct of the much-maligned Irish underdog in matches such as these then you best go back to your Playstation FIFA and Pornhub subscription because the rigours of the real thing ain’t for you, Smokey. Liam laser-focussed and sometimes prophetic, a phenomenal exhibition of calm under pressure and incisive intervention.

CRUSTY THE CLOWN – 9.5/10 MOTM – There’s not much more you can do as a defender at this level bar stud the Zombaby Ferguson tastily enough so it leaves a mark. And you get your perfect 10/10…But leaving that one error aside, let’s all remember the stoical awesomeness of the big Yank’s 95 minutes of thunderous defensive magnificence and attacking valour. Arse, baws and heid kept them out, and his big toe won a point.

Auston Trusty of Celtic FC celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Let’s also remember, Brendanistas, who had isolated him earlier in the season in the name of… Well, flaming sabotage really… Left so far out in the cold his nickname became ‘The ICE agent’. His form had slipped a little recently, and injury sidelined him. But here he was, back on the chain-gang with no little axe to grind and the Lasagne frontline’s efforts got ‘pick’-ed off (flaming pun intended!) time and time again by the outstanding hero of all the night’s heroes.

MELLOW YELLOW – 8/10 – The kid was great. Easy to fold and take the beating. But he’s got the correct competitive spirit for that jersey and looked like he was enjoying the scrap. Took his cue from the older lads and made every decision count, not a foot wrong when the heat was on. Even found time to attack Zombaby Ferguson with what seemed to be his nipples but came off second best; needs to watch more MMA.

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CALMAC – 7.5/10 – Yasss! scrap it out, skipper. That early goal-saving tackle set the tone and his troops responded. A mission that started out as a task to compete became a nightmare, a strength-sapping undertaking to stay in a game with the odds stacked against you. But he rallied his mhen defiantly and with proper leadership; voice will be gone, I’d think, from calling the shots like a quarter-back. Got his headspace exactly right once we were down to ten and made sure his team followed his example.

THE TERMINATOR – 7/10 – A really good bit of jousting from young Arne. Whatever the arguments over his finesse or the fact we don’t see nearly enough of it, you can’t grumble about a player who’ll dig as he did when the chip pan catches fire. Willing to cover the yards, bite into their showboaters and stand strong as a shield in front of his defence. Fair play, kid.

HAKUNA HATATE – 3/10 – For heaven’s sake Reo. After a promising goalscoring start, he all but turns the shotgun on us with two yellows of entirely his own making. First came after he was right through on a high ball and trapped it ten yards backwards like a deranged puppy with a beachball. Second and off – the petulance he’s shown through the season catches up, boils, then blows up in his face. Baka!

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YING – 6.5/10 – I admire the wee fella’s willingness to do the hard yards and play his part in the collective effort. Kind of like a Korean Daizen Lite. That he did, proving himself a worthy inclusion, if unable to shine going forward; any hope of that curtailed by our Japanese midfielder’s meltdown.

LORD KATSUMOTO – 8.5/10 – Daizen’s a flaming beast. Don’t take my word for it – Joe Hart told you in commentary. But he’s not the Gough kind of beast – he’s the defenders’ and goalkeepers’ nightmare-fuel sort. And for all the moans over the last month or so about his inscrutable expression, I’ve never seen a player enjoy himself more than Daizen when he’s happily tearing around causing chaos and carnage; a Japanese Heath Ledger’s Joker: “It about sending message, opponent-san.”

TUTANKHAMUN – 5/10 – Kind of dicked about until he realised these were no SPL jobbers and had some flashes of interest. But any sort of lasting impact he may have made was lost when he became the necessary sacrifice.

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SUBS –

TONY THE TIGER – 6.5/10 – Yet another of our more-maligned steps up in a time of need and crushes the souls of his detractors with a rabid, invigorating cameo. The Brickie became The Green Knight: ‘None Shall Pass!’ (See what I did there, fans of Python and Maurice Neumont propaganda posters?).

Johnny Kenny of Celtic and Nicolo Casale of Bologna, Bologna v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Renato Dall Ara Stadium, Bologna, Italy – 22 January 2026. Photo Michael Zemanek Shutterstock

KENNY JOHNNY – 6/10 – Rough, but ready to do his bit. So he came on and raced about and hounded them well enough; had he been a bit braver with choices he may even have set up Daizen for a winner… But let’s cool it with the acid trips.

Benjamin Nygren of Celtic FC looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

NEGAN – 6/10 – A credible enough half; mostly asked to subvert his natural game and dog around closing-down as much as possible rather than act creatively. Although the one chance he did get to notch his customary goal and send us into raptures, he surprisingly and frustratingly decided not to take down a high ball at the edge of the box with plenty space to strike one; instead opting a useless lob to a knackered Daizen.

SAINT BERNARDO – N/A – Woof! Time-killing, space-filling Paulo helped tired legs through the last ten minutes.

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Martin O Neill, manager of Celtic reacts after the match Bologna v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Group Stage, Renato Dall Ara Stadium, Bologna, Italy – 22 January 2026. Photo Michael Zemanek Shutterstock

FATHER MARTIN AND SAMWISE GANGEE – 8/10 – A marvellous vindication of Father Martin’s man-management and his management team’s inspiring influence on the squad. There won’t be many games in his vaunted career when his ten-man side of unrated, under-performing ‘lesser’ players have managed to hold a crack Italian outfit at bay for a besieged half an hour.

That will probably please him as much as anything this evening – that we didn’t crack when the equaliser went in. Very much the delightful opposite – the players galvanised and fought it out tooth and claw, and got a feel-good result that’ll have their manager buzzing and them bathing in the glory he’ll reflect with calculated words into Sunday’s showdown.

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Thijs Dallinga of Bologna scores the 1-2 goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

MIBBERY – 5/10 – Ran his pack of cards out through that tempestuous first 45, thankfully leaving one Japanese on the park when for a few seconds of VAR replay he might have landed an Asian double as Daizen arrived late on one of them at lightspeed.

Bologna’s Riccardo Orsolini and Jonathan Rowe with head down at the end of the UEFA Europa League soccer match between Bologna and Celtic at the Renato DallÕAra Stadium in Bologna, north Italy – Thursday, January 22, 2026 Photo Massimo Paolone/LaPresse/IMAGO

OVERALL – 8.5/10 – Pretty pastel away shirts sponsored by Celtic Alamo Foundation. And Davy Crockett. Magnificent isn’t the choice word really, for the performance, or the result – but certainly can be applied to the character the players finally showed after a troubled, teeth-grinding, brow-beater of a season to date.

Celtic FC fans during the Uefa Europa League match between Bologna FC and Celtic Glasgow on 22 January 2026 at Renato Dall Ara Stadium, Bologna, Italy. Photo Nderim Kaceli IPA Sport/IMAGO

The way in which they got that result – a precious point to bring qualification within reach – was almost absolutely ideal for our current circumstances, if not a little flaming mental. All that was missing by the end was a ripped Gerry Butler stood in our goalmouth in a red cape and shield, chucking a spear at Zombaby Ferguson, hollering “THIS. IS. SELLIIIIIIICK!”.

Celtic FC fans during the Uefa Europa League match between Bologna FC and Celtic Glasgow on 22 January 2026 at Renato Dall Ara Stadium, Bologna, Italy. Photo Nderim Kaceli IPA Sport/IMAGO

Almost to a mhan – not you, Reo. Baka! – they showed their mettle; same fortitude that had deserted them so infamously against the actual Zombies, the Paisley Zombies, The Dundee Zombies and the Diet Zombies, among others this season. And the perfect tonic was that this result came against a proper team, Italian Cup winners, away from home. It can be both season-defining and a litmus test; something the players should draw great energy and belief from, and if they don’t they’re never going to cut it.

I’d bet on the former if I was a gambling man. And you all know that I am so a ton on us -1 at the Edinbugger Reptile House on Sunday, thanks…So should we go on to take the title, remember this dreich January night as a turning-point when this Celtic side finally got their baws back, after some of them literally, heroically, put theirs on the line.

Go Away Now

Sandman

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