“Season has been narrowed down to 18 games,” Martin O’Neill

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·9 gennaio 2026

“Season has been narrowed down to 18 games,” Martin O’Neill

Having spoken at length to the mainstream media earlier in the week Martin O’Neill kept things short and sweet this afternoon while answering question at his media conference ahead of tomorrow’s Scottish Premiership match against Dundee United at Celtic Park…

Celtic Manager Martin O’Neill speaks at a mainstream conference on Tuesday 6th January 2026 at Lennoxtown after returning to the club following the sacking of Wifred Nancy. Photo Andy Buchanan Shutterstock

Here’s everything that was said in the second media conference this week for Martin O’Neill…

Q: After the first few days back, what have you found?

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Martin O’Neill: “Well, I suppose I know the players a little bit better than I did a few weeks ago, which is better news because there are fewer surprises anyway in that sense, but it’s just nice to see them again, although I don’t think they were expecting it.”

Q: It was obviously a short time ago. Does it feel like picking up where you left off?

Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, I think that it probably does really. I think that a few things have happened since then, but they are in pretty good spirits anyway, or so they seem. We’ll find out tomorrow.”

Q: You don’t detect any confidence crisis or anything like that, given the run they’ve been on?

Martin O’Neill: “I don’t think so, no. I just think that they’ll just have to go for it now. The season has been narrowed down now to 18 games, so it’s everything to play for, so hopefully they’re ready for it.”

Birmingham City v Ipswich Town EFL Sky Bet Championship 08/08/2025. Birmingham City Kyogo Furuhashi during the EFL Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Ipswich Town at the St Andrew’s Stadium, Birmingham on 8 August 2025. Photo Andy Shaw PSI (IMAGO)

Q: When we spoke earlier in the week, you said that Shaun Maloney was taking a look at transfers and so on. How likely is it that Kyogo Furuhashi makes a return in this window?

Martin O’Neill: “I would have said that would probably be unlikely. I think that it would be unlikely.”

Q: Do you think those reports are sort of premature? Is that at your end or at Birmingham’s end?

Martin O’Neill: “No, I think everything is premature. I think there is a viewpoint that he wants to really prove himself at Birmingham, which is no surprise.”

Q: Anything else imminent on the transfer front?

Martin O’Neill: “We’re doing plenty of work on it, seriously. I know that’s a big generalisation. We are doing that there and hopefully try and get a few players in. There’s a lot of work going on at the moment. I think that we are well aware that we have to supplement the squad.”

Celtic v Falkirk 29.10.2025 Scottish Premiership. Martin O’Neill, Shaun Maloney, Gavin Strachan and Mark Fotheringham Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO

Q: Wilfried obviously came in and tried to implement his style, which was very different from what you and Shaun and Mark had been doing previously. Does it feel like there is a big shift now to get back to where you were?

Martin O’Neill: “You know what, I genuinely don’t think so. I think that when I came in a few weeks ago now, I didn’t want to really make big changes. One, because I think first of all it had been going pretty well for the last number of years anyway. Secondly, yes of course, you will tweak a couple of little things that you as a manager might feel are beneficial. Might not eventually be. But there wasn’t a great deal to want to change. So if we go back to what I thought worked okay, everyone to their own, absolutely everyone to their own, then I thought maybe that’s it. But I think now having seven or eight games experience with the side, I think I have an idea of what might suit them. Might not be right.”

Q: There has been so much in the way of managerial change for the players over the course of the season. Do you think they will really benefit from just a period of stability from now until the summer?

Martin O’Neill: “Well if you call that stability, that’s really, really good! I have no doubt. I think you are right. I do think it does affect players. For instance, whatever you say about my particular way of going about things and Brendan’s, it wouldn’t be exactly the same. And Wilfried’s would be different to mine. So yes, players are having to adjust and they have to adjust quickly. The problem here is that you don’t get that time. You obviously don’t get the time because you have to try and win football matches. Not that I should ever feel sorry for players. Well, I really don’t. But it does take a bit of adjusting.”

03.01.2026 Celtic v theRangers, Scottish Premiership. Celtic fans protest against the Board at full time. Photo Kenny Ramsay

Q: We saw footage of the players leaving Celtic Park last week. There were some fans shouting at them. A lot of these players aren’t used to going in that kind of run that they were on as well. Have you had to pick up any individuals you’ve seen that have been a wee bit damaged by that?

Martin O’Neill: “Yes, again, I think you make a good point. It’s been pretty well decent sailing here for quite some considerable time. So that will be something that they will not be used to. But if you don’t win the games, I think you’ll have to accept that there will be criticism coming in some direction. Although that might have been, as you say, a bit of a shock to them. But no, not at the minute. I will do.

“I missed out yesterday because I had to go down and had just run out of clothes, really! Again, for the second time. But the games are coming thick and fast. But the point is right and I will be speaking to players individually about how they might have been affected by that. The best way to be disaffected by it is to go home, back and win.”

Q: Martin, you’ve said the other day as well, you’ve said it just now, the importance of trying to get players in. I just wonder if you can see some activity at theRangers. Hearts are making some moves as well. How crucial do you think this January window is going to be in terms of influence where the titles won and lost?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, I think you’re right. I think it’ll be crucial. I think it’s really important for us as well to get some people in to supplement the squad. I keep saying that, and I’m hoping that we’ll be able to do it because I think that the other two clubs we’re talking about will see this as an opportunity to bolster their squads. And what they do is entirely up to them. But yeah, we will need to do something.”

Callum McGregor of Celtic arriving at the ground ahead of kick off in the Scottish Premiership match between Livingston and Celtic at Set Fare Arena on December 27, 2025. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Q: I don’t know if you’re aware, I think it was a chat a couple of weeks ago, that Brendan Rodgers was perhaps interested in luring Callum McGregor to Saudi Arabia. Is that something you’re aware of? Is that something you had to speak to him about?

Martin O’Neill: “No, I haven’t spoken to him about that at all. And yeah, I saw the rumours, or I heard the rumours. I don’t think you can see rumours, can you? You hear rumours. So the same sort of thing, but I haven’t had to speak to him at all. I think he loves it here. There’s time for that, but if you’re asking me, would he go in this transfer window, that would be a major shock, a major disappointment to me. And yeah, I don’t think that we could cope with that.

Callum McGregor at Hampden. Celtic v theRangers. Premier Sports Cup, semi final at Hampden. 2 November 2025. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

Q: Yeah, that just kind of hammers home his importance, both for you and the club?

Martin O’Neill: “Of course, yeah. He’s crucial.”

Q: Any other squad news?

Martin O’Neill: “No more. The injured lads are not back yet. There are a few of them out training now, but that’ll be a week or two. I’m not talking about the long-term injuries, I’m talking about those boys who got injured in the last month or five weeks.”

Watch Martin O’Neill’s media conference ahead of the Celtic v Dundee United match below…

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