“That’s the dream for all of us again,” as Martin O’Neill praises Brendan Rodgers

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The Celtic Star

·29 novembre 2025

“That’s the dream for all of us again,” as Martin O’Neill praises Brendan Rodgers

Celtic’s 3-1 win in Rotterdam has certainly raised spirits at Celtic, from the players to the support who still remain divided in their outlook towards the Celtic Board with little or no sign of any sort of olive branch appearing that may heal the division.

Benjamin Nygren of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s third goal with teammates during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Feyenoord and Celtic FC at De Kuip on November 27, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos Getty Images)

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So while Martin O’Neill can’t do much about that himself it’s clearly been on his mind after being pretty shocked at the events he was thrown into eight days ago at the controversial and entirely unsatisfactory Celtic AGM. We’ll come back to that in the next article.

What O’Neill can and has done something about is raising spirits in the support and confidence in the Celtic squad he has handed so brilliantly over these past few weeks, delivering a place in the Premier Sports Cup final, cutting seven points off the Hearts lead that looked significant when he arrived but is now very much neck and neck, and importantly delivered an away win in Europe against a notable opponent.

Continues on the next page…

Martin O’Neill, Manager of Celtic, looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Feyenoord and Celtic FC at De Kuip on November 27, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

“The game in Holland was terrific for the players and fans, to feel as if that they could compete there. Now does that mean that all ills are cured? Not at all, absolutely not,” Martin O’Neill said yesterday at his final pre-match media conference at Lennoxtown, the day after the night before in Rotterdam.

O’Neill will head to Easter Road in the morning looking to finish the interim job he’s been asked to do on a high, delivering additional three points (Hearts are at Motherwell today, so that result will be known before the action gets underway against Hibs) and looking to leave as good a position as possible for Wilfried Nancy who is expected to arrive on Monday at Celtic Park.

Europa League progress was on Martin’s mind, having just got back from Rotterdam.

“You only have to look at Midtjylland a couple of weeks ago. But it’s a nice sign. Can Celtic get through into the knockouts? I don’t even know that, but (beating Feyenoord) gives you a bit of a chance.

Reo Hatate of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Daizen Maeda during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Feyenoord and Celtic FC at De Kuip on November 27, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

“The lads have good confidence – but confidence erodes very quickly. If you lose a couple of matches, which they did against Dundee then Hearts, then even good players will lack confidence. So that’s something that has been restored,” the interim Celtic manager said.

O’Neill stepped in after Brendan Rodgers tried to offer an olive branch to the Celtic Board who instead of biting his hand off decided to take his head on a plate, accepting his offer to resign of that’s what they really wanted then savaging him via the disgraceful Dermot attack on the official club website. That was after Rodgers was briefed against by a Celtic insider in the Sun newspaper earlier in the season.

Brendan Rodgers, Celtic Glasgow press conference ahead UEFA Europa league match against Crvena zvezda at Rajko Mitic stadium, Belgrade 23.09.2025 Belgrade Rajko Mitic stadium Serbia Photo VM/MN Press

“I’m always careful about saying things that may seem to go against previous managers. Brendan Rodgers has done super, absolutely super, in both his spells,” Martin O’Neill said yesterday.

“So it’s not that. But when you lose football matches. confidence will dip regardless of who’s managing. But I think they’re up and running now.

“Will Celtic become a powerhouse in Europe? I think that’s the dream for all of us again.”

It was certainly the dream of Brendan Rodgers but not his bosses.

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