Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has pledged to guide the club back to success after a disappointing Champions League exit, acknowledging the team's prolonged period of 'life in the slow lane' in European competitions. O'Neill's comments echo concerns he voiced nearly 23 years ago about the club's financial constraints impacting their continental ambitions.
Despite sporadic European successes, Celtic's record in post-Christmas knockout ties has been notably poor since their UEFA Cup final appearance. O'Neill stated that the club needs a comprehensive new strategy rather than relying on luck, particularly after suffering multiple qualifying play-off defeats. "Any team could lose one play-off for the Champions League. When it loses eight out of 10 and six on the spin, it’s not a rub of the green it needs. It’s a whole new strategy," he remarked.
The manager pointed to recurring issues such as selling key players without adequate replacements, poor recruitment, and slow transfer dealings as contributing factors to the club's struggles. The recent sale of Arne Engels to West Ham for £22 million before their Champions League qualifier was cited as an example of a gamble that failed. "Perhaps there was the thought Arne might stay for the game," O'Neill said. "But, look, we genuinely need to learn. That’s the most important thing."
O'Neill acknowledged that a failure to adequately bolster the squad in the transfer window has drawn criticism. He also addressed the team's performance in the recent match, where they conceded a significant lead. "Callum McGregor felt his team-mates were scared as LASK turned up the heat," O'Neill noted. "It was impossible to argue with that assessment."
Reflecting on the game, O'Neill stated, "We played the first game, we won 3-0. I did say afterwards that the game was very much in the balance. That wasn’t just a defence mechanism. It was the truth of the game. I thought that they were a really fine side. I know we did not do well in the second half, but in all honesty we should have been out of sight by half-time."
The manager also addressed the criticism directed at substitute Luke McCowan, who was dispossessed leading to a crucial goal for LASK. "If it hadn’t been Luke, it would have been somebody else," O'Neill said. "People have been, throughout time, subjected to lots of abuse. It just seems to be the way. Generally speaking, I’m not in the mood for putting arms around players at this minute. But I will."
O'Neill emphasized the importance of moving past the recent disappointment and learning from it. "Are you going to stem the flow of negativity? I just think this is it. I think that people, first of all, you have to be disappointed. And if you’re angry at it — I absolutely accept those things. But somewhere along the way we as a football club have to get back up again as quickly as possible. Try and ride the disappointment out. And learn from it."
