“Today was really good, the players were really impressive,” Shaun Maloney | OneFootball

Shaun Maloney spoke to the media this afternoon at Rugby Park after Celtic’s 5-1 win over Neil McCann’s Kilmarnock side…

9th August 2026; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Kasper Hogh of Celtic scores with a header in the 2nd minute to make it 1-0 to Celtic. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

With Martin O’Neill missing the match due to his recent medical issue, Maloney was handling the team and the media duties at a match where Kasper Hogh scored a hat-trick and Celtic jumped to top of the league five points ahead of the Rangers. Here’s everything that a delighted Shaun Maloney said after the match…

Q: Enjoyable experience in the Celtic dugout?

Shaun Maloney: “Today was really good, the players were really impressive. Probably the most impressive was the mentality. We started the game really full throttle and they never really came off it. So it’s been a tough week obviously for everyone. I thought they were really good.”

9th August 2026; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Kasper Hogh of Celtic celebrates after he scores with a header to make it 3-0 in the 35th minute. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

Q: Obviously a hat trick for Kasper Hogh, how much does that help him when it comes to settling into a new club and everything that goes round about it with price tag and everything?

Shaun Maloney: “Yeah, huge, yeah. He’s definitely settled in really, really quickly. I think his performance against Dundee was good. Obviously he’s missed some chances but that’s the life of a number nine as well. I was really, really impressed with his all-round game. Kilmarnock trying to go man for man, trying to pressure you aggressively. Everything that went up to him stuck and it was like a platform for our team. His all-round game was good and then the goals kind of top it off. We’ve watched him for a long, long time. If we create chances he’ll score, yeah.”

9th August 2026; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Kasper Hogh of Celtic celebrates with the match ball after his hat trick. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

Q: It seems he’s really showing a personality, doesn’t it?

Shaun Maloney:  “Yeah, we haven’t known him too long but he’s got a big personality. You probably need it, a Celtic number nine. On that though, I think Camilo Duran as well has come in with a really different personality. Really quiet, gets on with his work. I thought he was brilliant today as well. So I think with the two of them, really different personalities. But they’ve both settled in so far pretty well, yeah. I was really happy for Camilo with his performance today, really.”

Q: Did you have any contact with Martin? Was he offering instruction?

Shaun Maloney:  “Not during the game, no. He was at the team hotel, he did the team meeting, he spoke to the players. And then he just said, with the staff, just get on with it. And I’ll give him a shout after this. But I’m glad that when I see him that we’ve won.”

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill arrives at the ground ahead of kick off in the Celtic v AC Milan in a pre-season friendly at Celtic Park on July 25, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Q: A win is good but how pleasing is the manner of the win? Because it was five going on ten.

Shaun Maloney: “Really pleased. I was really pleased with the creative part. There was about a five, ten minute period where the game felt 50/50. Viljami Sinisalo made a really good save. Even during that period we were creating. So I really liked that side of us. Yeah, that was good. I really enjoyed how creative we were. But I’d say the platform for that came from just without the ball. We worked really hard today. So the lads have set a standard and they have to try and reach that now.”

Q: You had quite a few very stressful away games last season. Was it quite pleasing to give Martin a slightly more comfortable win this afternoon?

Shaun Maloney:  “I think obviously the last ten or fifteen minutes, or maybe when the fifth went in, it felt less stressful. But I think you never feel that comfortable. I know it might feel different watching. No, I’m really glad. I’ve never experienced anything like this or what happened this week. I’ve never experienced anything like that. The staff have been very good, the players, the senior guys. I’m really pleased for the boss. He’s had another win after that week. The quicker we get him back, the better I think.”

Q: Is there any timescale on that? Or is it just see how it goes?

Shaun Maloney: “Yeah, just day-to-day I think. He was loads better today. So he spoke to the group. It’ll literally be on him when he feels good enough and the doctor’s happy that he’ll just come back in. Again, he looked better again today. He was in good form. You know what he’s like. He’s sat here a lot. His only instruction really was go and win. That’s what he does.”

Q: Did he pick the team or did you pick the team?

Shaun Maloney: “It was both really. We had a meeting last night before the game and it was normal. He was there and we had all the team selection. He picks what he thinks and he asks the staff. It was really, really normal.”

9th August 2026; Rugby Park, Scottish Premiership Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Arne Engels of Celtic on the ball. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

Q: Alistair Johnston came off at half-time?

Shaun Maloney: “He felt something. That was just precautionary, we hope. I thought the back four and the two in front, Callum and Engels, were really good. Hopefully he’s fine.”

Q: Was that a big boost for the players to see Martin earlier on?

Shaun Maloney: “I think so. Probably for the staff as well. All of us. Yeah, I think so. There’s a real good bond there with the boss and the players. I’m sure you’ll speak to some of them now. I think it had a real positive impact. I’m glad he spoke to them before we left.

Q: Any progress made in terms of transfers over the last 24-48 hours?

Shaun Maloney:  “No, I don’t think so. I think the last I spoke to Michael and Martin on this was yesterday after training. So nothing at all.

Q: Has what happened to Martin had impact on that at all?

Shaun Maloney: “He’s still able to speak to Michael. All the players that we wanted, all the targets that we had are still the same. Nothing’s changed really. I think you have to respect what he’s been through. Try to take some of the workload off the pitch for him for a few days. But yeah, it’s just going as normal really. Hopefully he’s back as early as possible next week.”

Q: Is he a poor patient?

Shaun Maloney:  “You’ll have to ask his wife. She’s been up with him. I don’t know what it would have been like watching this game today. I’ve watched games with him previous. At the end of last season, watching games of our rivals was difficult. As you can imagine. So I don’t know how he was today. You can ask him next week.”

9th August 2026; Rugby Park, Scottish Premiership, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Luke McCowan of Celtic celebrates with James Forrest of Celtic and Kieran Tierney of Celtic after he shoots and scores in the 75th minute to make it 5-1 to Celtic. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

Q: In terms of Engels and Johnston, how do you anticipate that going this week? Is it about ignoring the phone calls until after LASK?

Shaun Maloney:  “I think Michael and Martin will probably be able to tell you the exact plan or strategy around any of the outgoings in terms of related to the Champions League, the Champions League games. I think Arne today was as good as I’ve seen him. I thought he was excellent at the end of last season. I think it’s been hard for him in pre-season. He’s been with us all the time. He wasn’t with the national team. So it’s not been an easy summer for him. I spoke to him. I’ll be honest, he spoke to me. He wanted to see me yesterday. And he was really strong on wanting to put a performance out today. So I thought him and McGregor were brilliant in the middle of the pitch. Arne was… I’m a huge fan of Arne today. He showed everything that he had. His pass at the end for Forrest was outstanding.”