FC Midtjylland v Celtic – Martin O’Neill’s entertaining Media Conference

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The Celtic Star

·05 de novembro de 2025

FC Midtjylland v Celtic – Martin O’Neill’s entertaining Media Conference

Martin O’Neill and Kasper Schmeichel, back home in Denmark on his 39th birthday, spoke to the media at the MCH Arena ahead of tomorrow evening’s Europa League match between FC Midtjylland and Celtic on matchday four of the group stages. Here’s everything Martin O’Neill had to say…

Celtic press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz – Europa League Herning, Denmark – November 5: Goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel and Jonas Lossl during Celtic press conference ahead of the match against FC Midtjylland in UEFA Europa League at MCH Arena Herning MCH Arena Denmark. Photo DANIEL STENTZ/IMAGO

Q: Martin, your last European Celtic match was in 2004, how are you relishing a return this week?

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Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, I’m obviously looking forward to the game. I didn’t realise that, well, I didn’t really look at the fixture list at all, but I hadn’t realised that there was a European game so quickly. And yeah, I am just looking forward to it. This young man [Kasper Schmeichel] has been telling me the correct pronunciations here and things like this here, so yeah, genuinely looking forward to it.

Q: The results have gone for you, but the performances have come up as well, a bit more intensity. How much confidence do you feel coming into this tie?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, I think obviously you’ll get confidence from beating big rivals, so that was great for us. Ironically, I actually have seen Midtjylland play, because I was covering their game for TV a few weeks ago now, and they’re very strong, so I wouldn’t think you’d start to get carried away with things. I’m just pleased to be here, I must admit, and we’ll take it on from there. So yeah, I suppose that is just a really, really crap way of delivering it.

Q: You mentioned the form that they’re in, what are you expecting from them? How big of a challenge are they going to be?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, I thought they were great against Nottingham Forest, really great away from home, against a Forest side that are actually physically quite strong themselves. And not only are they very, very good in set pieces, but they’re also a really good talented side. Really, really, very, very good. They were excellent on the evening, and it’s no surprise that they’ve got full points from their games.

FC Midtjylland press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz – Europa League Herning, Denmark – November 5: Head coach Mike Tullberg and Kevin Mbabu during FC Midtjylland press conference ahead of the match against Glasgow Celtic in UEFA Europa League at MCH Arena Herning MCH Arena Denmark. Photo DANIEL STENTZ/IMAGO

Q: We’re speaking to the Midtjylland manager earlier, the difference he’s noticed in Celtic teams since you’ve come in is energy and power. Do you feel that that’s there? Have you noticed that as well?

Martin O’Neill: “That would be hard for me to make that comment, really, because I’ve been in for two games, and we’ve had really good moments, we’ve created some chances. The man beside me has made two big, big saves in both games, at important stages of matches as well, too. I really don’t know that. I think that the team has played well, they’ve played well in the games, we’ve got a few goals, so that helps. But, yeah, tomorrow evening, totally different, totally different ball game again.”

Billy McNeill holding the European Cup that Celtic won in 1967 football Lisbon Lions. Photo SMN

Q: In terms of this competition, you’re synonymous with this competition to so many Celtic fans. What does it actually mean to you personally?

Martin O’Neill: “Yes, I mean, we got beaten in the final, so that’s not great news. That’s a long time ago, 2003. And if you were asking me a week ago, would I ever actually be involved in another European game, I think you’d have a fair idea what the answer was. So, listen, it’s pleasing. If you talk about Celtic and European games, that’s where Celtic should be aiming to be, to be playing in big, big games. And that was set aside way back, as far back as 1967, when Jock Stein and the best side and the best manager that Celtic have ever had, and the best team that they’ve ever had, set a standard that it’s very, very difficult to reach. And the only way you do that is by eventually winning the European Cup. Now, lots of things have changed since then. Big, big money in the game, and so there’s not so much of a level playing field. But it’s still, it’s not just European football, it’s what Celtic should be aspiring to.”

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Henrik Larsson of Celtic scores the first goal during the Blackburn Rovers v Glasgow Celtic UEFA Cup second round, second leg match at Ewood Park on November 14, 2002. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Q: Just going on those memories of the European games back in those days, the away matches in particular, some memorable ones, weren’t there? Can you remember ones that stand out to yourself that you may lean on this week, even?

Martin O’Neill: “Oh, the games? Oh, the 2003 games, yeah. They are very, very vivid. Very vivid indeed. You know, when I think about, well, naturally Blackburn Rovers, big, big game for us. They played very well at the Celtic Park, and then we go and defeat them. And that was important. I think it was important for Scottish football, because people were saying that Blackburn, although they were riding high at the time, they were fifth, sixth or seventh in the league, in the Premier League. And if we lost that there people would make disparaging comments then about Scottish football. So, I always felt that that was important for us.

Alan Thompson of Celtic scores the first goal with a free kick during the Liverpool v Glasgow Celtic UEFA Cup Quarter Final, Second Leg match at Anfield in Liverpool, England on March 20, 2003. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

“Then we go and beat Liverpool in the quarter-final, which was fantastic. Then we scramble over the line in the semi-final when Henrik scores the goal. And then we lose to a very, very talented side in the final, who spent a lot of time on the ground, I must admit. A lot of time, you know. I’m not even sure you were born at the time, but anyway. That keeps me awake at night. But they went on to win the Champions League the following year. So, a great team, and a brilliant, brilliant manager. One of the best managers that’s been in the game. But they could have done a lot less play acting.”

Q: Another big performance is required against Midtjylland?

Martin O’Neill: “Massive, really. Very, very good side. Seriously, really good team. And they deserve to be where they are. They’ve got nine points. It’s no surprise to me. I didn’t realise how good they were until I saw them against Forest.”

Q: Martin, your last European tie as Celtic manager was a 0-0 against Milan. I think that season you also got a 1-1 draw in the Nou Camp. As a Celtic manager, does it give you an extra thrill taking the team into Europe?

Martin O’Neill: “Yes. I mean, they’ve already played three games. So, yes, I am genuinely excited by them playing again. It’s nice. It’s great. And following on from Sunday, as I mentioned, the confidence booster. But, yes, it’s just a game. I think that if I was looking at the table, I think that, I mean, I suppose most teams or teams of our ilk would be looking at maybe trying to get 10 points on the board. And maybe that might be enough to get through. And we’ve only got two home games left, three away. So it’s not going to be easy. But, yes, getting back to it, really excited by it.”

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

Q: Martin, just a quick one on the fitness of everyone. Has everyone survived the weekend? And players that have been out, are they any closer to returning?

Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, I think that we’ve come out of it reasonably okay. A few knocks and a few bruises. A few people who haven’t played a great deal, obviously, went down with cramp and things like that, which is not really surprising given the pace of the game. So, yeah, we’re not too bad. We’ll maybe think about making a couple of changes to the side, but we’ll see how it goes. We genuinely have not made our minds up yet.”

Callum Osmand celebrates with the Celtic supporters after the match. Celtic v theRangers. Premier Sports Cup, semi final at Hampden. 2 November 2025. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

Q: You’ve added young Callum Osmand, obviously, to the squad. Was that a no-brainer, really, given the injuries and stuff like that?

Martin O’Neill: “That’s true, yeah. So, we’ve got two centre-backs, and the big lad as well, who played at Hearts, so we’ve got that. But you’re right, it was just an automatic thing for him to come in.”

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Q: How’s he been? It’s been a big few days for him?

Martin O’Neill: “It’s been amazing, really, for him. He’s a really nice lad, and he’s sharp, and he’s good. And, yeah, so… Yeah, I like him. I like him a great deal. It’s early, yeah.”

Callum Osmand celebrates. Celtic v theRangers. Premier Sports Cup, semi final at Hampden. 2 November 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Q: Martin, can you recall any previous player who has just suddenly made such an incredible impact, I mean, truly, in the professional game?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, I think the impact is because he scores against (the)Rangers now, and that’s very big in itself. And the fact that he slid in like a proper centre-forward, and put the ball in the net. I mean, it’s great for him. I think that he’s got a really good attitude. You think that he’s got this potential, that you feel as if you could work with him, and it might be a joy. But it might not be, and it might not be for the next manager coming up. So I don’t know. But he is not lacking in confidence, but he’s not cocky or anything like that. He knows what he wants to do, which is really pleasing. Now, would he be… Is he the short-term answer? Who knows? Who knows at this minute? But it’s a great start for him, and he’s delighted with it, and I’m delighted with him.”

Q: The European stage obviously is another level, but looking at him in training and his confidence, could you see him just making that leap again, no problem?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, you would have to hope to, or he would have to. Yeah, listen, I like him. This is my ninth day or something, I guess, here at the minute. I think I was introduced to him twice on the first day. So I kind of missed him first of all, and then I saw him after that. But he’s great. I’m really pleased with him, honestly, and he’s delighted with the goal and, again, such illustrious opposition.”

Q: You’re like an instant father figure for him?

Martin O’Neill: “I doubt that. I doubt that. Father figure. I’ve got two daughters who are lovely girls and are much older than him. So, yeah.”

Celtic press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz – Europa League Herning, Denmark – November 5: Manager Martin O Neill and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel during Celtic press conference ahead of the match against FC Midtjylland in UEFA Europa League at MCH Arena Herning MCH Arena Denmark Photo: DANIEL STENTZ/ IMAGO

Q: What do you think of Kasper, since you’ve come in, and the influence you think he’s had, not just on the pitch, but off the pitch?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, he has been speaking in Danish tonight, if he has been disparaging about me, and I don’t know about it, then I can be equally disparaging of him! And will he ever live up to his father’s reputation?! I think he’s got ten caps to beat his dad!”

Q: Is he one of the players you’ve got to lean on?

Martin O’Neill: “Absolutely. Yeah, of course, really, really important. Big player, big player, won the Premier League with Leicester, fantastic achievement, absolutely terrific. So yeah, and he’s made, more importantly, he’s made big saves. Against Falkirk, I think we were 1-0 up at the time, he made a really good save, a really good save that. Again, Rangers could have equalised in save, blocked it. So yeah, of course, leaning him, absolutely, leaning on Callum McGregor and James Forrest, I think it’s done great for us. So, yeah, I genuinely couldn’t be more pleased and pleased he’s here.”

Q: Are Alistair Johnston and Kelechi Iheanacho available?

Martin O’Neill: “No, they’re not fit.”

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Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books