Glasgow, Scotland – Martin O’Neill’s interim stewardship of Celtic is beginning to quell anxieties surrounding the club’s recent form, as a decisive victory has narrowed the gap at the Scottish Premiership summit to six points.
After a turbulent week for the defending champions, the win provides a much-needed boost in confidence and momentum heading into a crucial League Cup semi-final against Rangers at Hampden on Sunday. O’Neill’s return has coincided with a renewed attacking intent, evidenced by 26 shots towards Scott Bain’s goal – 11 on target, with two hitting the woodwork – and 119 successful final third passes.
The victory is particularly encouraging given Celtic’s struggles to consistently replicate the high-intensity football seen in previous seasons.Forward Mikey Kenny has emerged as a key beneficiary of the change,scoring two instinctive goals and nearly adding a third in the second half,demonstrating a clear grasp of the prospect presented to him.
O’Neill acknowledged the team’s attacking philosophy, stating, “That’s been at Celtic for quite a considerable time, getting the ball forward quickly.” He added a note of caution, “sometimes we played it and we played it too quickly, it’s fine.As long as there’s an end product. we’ll see how we can come out of the game.”
The interim manager also revealed his ongoing assessment of the squad, noting, “As it turns out, even at my age I’m learning about players. I’m learning some of our players are really good.”
O’Neill had previously joked that his position beyond the Falkirk match was contingent on a positive result, a challenge he has now met. success in the upcoming League Cup semi-final is highly likely to intensify speculation regarding his long-term future with the club.
