MARTIN O’NEILL has responded to reports he looked “tired” after Celtic’s 3-1 Europa League collapse against Ferencvaros at Parkhead on Thursday night.
The pressure is on the 74-year-old Irishman after back-to-back losses, including last weekend’s 3-0 Premier Sports League Cup flop at Ibrox, as he prepares for the crucial second instalment of the derby double-header at Parkhead tomorrow.
O’Neill admitted the club will be searching “soon enough” for his replacement on the touchline, but the veteran team chief bristled at suggestions he was fatigued.
The claim was made by a Radio Scotland pundit in the immediate aftermath of the disappointing outcome against the Hungarian outfit and the Hoops gaffer said: “Am I tired? No.
A LOT ON HIS MIND…Martin O’Neill in a pensive moment.
“When you lose the first thing you’d think is that the manager is 74. It doesn’t matter whether he’s tired or not. But I’ve got enthusiasm.
“I had an illness recently which knocks you back a bit. You also get knocked when you lose. It hurts as much now at 74 as it did when I started managing. Perhaps even more now.”
O’Neill admitted he had never met the reporter who made the observation and commented: “If he said I sounded tired that’s his opinion. That’s something probably only I can answer.
“Have I got that energy? Hopefully. Famous last words – I hope not to die tomorrow!
“I might also have the energy, but if we keep losing football matches, I might not get the chance to re-energise myself. It’s the nature of the game.
“But I think I will always have the stomach for a fight. That’s probably the thing that’s maybe kept me going. Does it guarantee you winning football matches? I’m not sure about that.”
O’Neill, who won seven honours, including three titles, in his first spell at Celtic was lauded for guiding the team to a league and Cup success during a turbulent campaign last time out.
A MAN ALONE…Martin O’Neill on the Ibrox touchline.
He agreed to stay on in the summer and the champions are five points ahead of Derek McInnes’ side after six games and have the opportunity to inflict some serious damage in tomorrow’s noon confrontation that could see the Govan club drop EIGHT points off the pace.
However, after two consecutive reverses with the team failing to compete on both occasions, criticism has mounted on the team boss and the players.
O’Neill, speaking to the Scottish Sun, continued: “I’ve never worried about legacy. Jock Stein can talk about a legacy. The rest of us are just followers.
“I’ve never thought about having goodwill in the bank, either. You’re only as good as your last game.
“Last season has gone. All the victories we had against our big rivals disappear because you’re only as good as your last pass.
“I’ve lived with that for some time. Last season was invigorating in a way I never thought possible.
“I remember certain games from way back, but very few would beat the feeling when Callum Osmand was running 60 yards to take the ball in the net against Hearts.
“That was just fantastic. I was pretty tired after that, but I’m raring to go again now. It doesn’t mean I’m exempt from criticism.
“I’ve never felt I ever have been.”
FOCUS…Martin O’Neill is a study in concentration on the Parkhead touchline.
O’Neill added: “If there have been calls to change the manager they could easily be from my brother.
“That doesn’t bother me now in that sense. Does winning and losing bother me? Of course.
“If you lose matches, you will get criticised – and we’ve lost the two big games in the week so I accept that.
“But I definitely won’t be here forever, either. In many ways, I shouldn’t really be here.
“Celtic will be looking, soon enough, for someone to replace me.”
Until such times, we can concentrate on attempting to extracting instant revenge against McInnes’ side who got it far too easy last Sunday.
Let’s hope the real Celtic turn up in Paradise on this occasion.
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