VfB Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic – “Everybody came out with flying colours,” Martin O’Neill

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The Celtic Star

·27 février 2026

VfB Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic – “Everybody came out with flying colours,” Martin O’Neill

Martin O’Neill spoke to the media last night at the Neckarstadion, after Celtic’s 1-0 victory over VfB Stuttgart in the Europa League play-off…

Celtic support in Stuttgart Photo IMAGO / Jan Huebner

The damage was done last week at Celtic Park with the Bundesliga side winning 4-1, so the tie ended in a 4-2 in Stuttgart’s favour. In today’s draw they have been paired with Porto – now that would have been something if Celtic had gone through with Martin O’Neill going for revenge after the final in Seville in 2003.

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Here’s everything that was said in the media room at the Neckarstadion via Go Radio after the match which was decided by that early goal from Luke McCowan…

Celtic Manager Martin O Neill waves to fans. Stuttgart v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Knockout Round Play Offs, Second Leg, Football, MHP Arena, Stuttgart, Germany – 26 Feb 2026Stuttgart MHP Arena Germany Photo James Marsh Shutterstock

Q: Martin, a kind of bittersweet night tonight, exiting the tournament. Damage was done last week. But you must be really proud of what the players have achieved tonight? A first-ever win in Germany for the club.

Martin O’Neill: “Naturally, I’m delighted. I’m delighted with the effort and determination that they put into the game. We got off to a really great start. We felt as if we didn’t concede in the first 20 minutes of the match, and maybe even nick a goal, we could still be in the tie. We’re playing a very, very good side. A side, from my viewpoint here, capable of winning the competition. But I couldn’t be more pleased with the team. I couldn’t be more pleased with attitude and desire and wanting to do it. We were getting very tired towards the end of the game. But that was understandable, really, for the effort that they put in.”

Luke McCowan of Celtic celebrates scoring during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between VfB Stuttgart and Celtic FC at Stuttgart Arena on February 26, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)

Q: Now you’re faced with this huge game on Sunday. How much belief and confidence will the guys and yourself take from tonight into the game at Ibrox?

Martin O’Neill: “Naturally, it’s a different game. We don’t have that much time to get ourselves ready for it. But we will go again. We’re staying overnight here. We’ll travel back tomorrow and get ourselves ready for it. That’s what we can do, and that’s what we will do. The result, of course, is in the lap of the gods. But I genuinely think that the players do deserve an enormous amount of credit here. It’s not my main aim, but at least it’s keeping Scottish football, I suppose, in that sense. I suppose the coefficient keeps dropping down. I don’t know how it’s affected. I heard within 18 months or something, it’s the side that finishes second will go into a qualifying game for the Conference League. So that’s not fantastic news. It’s not the main thing, but at least tonight, naturally, I’m very proud of the team. I’m proud for the club and the players.”

26 02 2026, UEFA Europa League, VfB Stuttgart Celtic Glasgow v l Colby Donovan Celtic Glasgow Jamie Leweling VfB Stuttgart battle for the ball. Photo IMAGO

Q: You made eight changes tonight. Some of the players that started tonight maybe haven’t played as much football as others. But given the performances from those players, has that given you a bit of food for thought going into Sunday?

Martin O’Neill: “Of course. Yes, it does. Absolutely. There are players there. I’ve just done a little interview there. It’s not as if we’ve played some 16-year-olds. The players have all played, but you’re absolutely right. Some have played less football than others in recent times. And I thought that everybody came out with flying colours.”

Players of VfB Stuttgart and Celtic FC anticipate a corner kick during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between VfB Stuttgart and Celtic FC at Stuttgart Arena on February 26, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)

Q: Martin, can you possibly explain your version of that incident where they thought they’d scored? You’re trying to make a sub. The lad gets back on the pitch from injury and there was maybe an offside. What was your version of what had happened?

Martin O’Neill: “My version was pretty clear that the player had raced on the field without permission. That’s really what he did. He raced on. I thought they’d come from nowhere. Suddenly he just charged on the pitch, didn’t get permission to come on, or wasn’t given permission to come on the field. And off he went. I think I could have scored! If I can get a 25-yard start on everybody else, maybe not. But I would have gone close.”

Auston Trusty of Celtic FC looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between VfB Stuttgart and Celtic FC at Stuttgart Arena on February 26, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)

Q: Martin, if this is to be your final European game as a manager, will you miss occasions like this and the spectacle, the atmosphere?

Martin O’Neill: “Of course. I’ve been given a chance here. By the way, the evening has absolutely nothing to do with me. It really isn’t. Of course I miss it, absolutely. I’ll miss it until they’re putting a brown lid on top of me. I miss the game. I’ve always missed it. Here I am, in many aspects, in dreamland, really. Just to be given the opportunity to manage the side here and come, as you said, the first win for the club on German soil, which is nice. That’s bittersweet in that sense, because the tie was tough for us because of last week. But overall, getting back to it, I miss football. I always will.”

Kasper Schmeichel, Stevie Woods and Viljami Sinisalo of Celtic. Stuttgart v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Knockout Round Play Offs, Second Leg, Football, MHP Arena, Stuttgart, Germany – 26 Feb 2026Stuttgart MHP Arena Germany Photo James Marsh IMAGO Shutterstock

Q: Starting back on the changes you made tonight, obviously you changed your goalkeeper. What did you make of Sinasalo’s performance? Has he given you a bit of a headache for Sunday?

Martin O’Neill: “I was asked that about the headache. Maybe it is a headache. I thought he did really well, really well in the game. I’m delighted for him. He’s a lovely lad. Funny enough, we were having a conversation. I’ll leave it. It doesn’t matter. He did great in the game, and so did a few others as well. Not a few others. Everybody did well in the match. It gives me food for thought, which was your phrase, which I like, rather than a headache.”

Luke McCowan of Celtic reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between VfB Stuttgart and Celtic FC at Stuttgart Arena on February 26, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)

Q: When that goal went in after 30 seconds, Martin, was there a real sense of belief from you?

Martin O’Neill: “I got carried away with myself. I thought, we’re going to do this here. Eventually, we have to create more chances in the game away from home, and it wasn’t to be. It might have been interesting if Seb had scored towards the last couple of minutes. It might have been a bit nervy for Stuttgart, but overall, yes, I did. I genuinely thought we could do it, but I might be asking a lot.”

"We'll go again" 💪 Martin O'Neill is hoping that Celtic can build on tonight's performance against Stuttgart when they face Rangers on Sunday, and reflects on what might be his last European match as a manager 🟢
– jeudi 26 février 2026