CHRIS SUTTON reckons Wilfried Nancy would be “foolish” not to listen to Martin O’Neill as the Frenchman prepares to take over at the champions.
The comeback Celtic gaffer is loathe to talk about giving advice, but is prepared to share opinions with the incoming boss who is poised to move into the hot seat on Monday – 24 hours after the Irishman’s final bow against Hibs at Easter Road.
Looking at what his former manager has achieved during his brief interim stay, Sutton said: “What a job he’s done over the last four weeks or so.
“He’ll admit himself it’s not been perfect, but to win five out of six going into Sunday was some going in the circumstances.
“You look back at the environment he walked into and the constant backdrop of fan unrest. Yet he’s defeated Rangers to set up a League Cup Final, he’s cut the gap on Hearts at the top of the Premiership and he’s giving Celtic a fighting chance of progressing in Europe. “You simply could not ask for more.
STANDING OVATION… Martin O’Neill acknowledges the Celtic fans after the 3-1 Europa League win over Feyenoord in Rotterdam.
“O’Neill won’t be resting on any laurels, either. He’s preparing for one final hurrah at Hibs, but I know he’ll be worried about this one.
“Not from a personal point of view, or making sure he goes out on a high. It’s not an ego thing with him. It’s about doing his best for the club – as it has been for the last month.
“He’ll just know Hibs could arguably be a tougher game than Feyenoord the other night and he’ll be determined to keep the momentum going for Wilfried Nancy taking charge.”
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “O’Neill was talking the other night about being available to offer his opinions to the new manager rather than advice.
“Nancy will have his own ideas, but he’d be foolish not to take him up on his offer.
“It’s a slightly strange situation with the new man coming in because there’s been a real upturn in form and in terms of the feelgood factor around the squad.
“There’s a couple of ways to look at it. O’Neill might have stabilised and is handing over a squad that has found a bit of confidence and managed to string together some big results.
“There’s also the fact O’Neill could cast a bit of a shadow over the new man, given there’s a lot of fans who would have been more than happy to see the interim manager staying in place, at least until after the Cup Final.
“It’s understandable. Especially after a night like Thursday.
“It was a brilliant display and result from Celtic. Probably one not many people could see coming. Perhaps not even Martin himself.
“His team sheet didn’t half make interesting reading and it was telling that Kieran Tierney was the only summer signing in the starting line-up.
THE GREAT AMERICAN DREAM…Columbus Crew coach Wilfried Nancy with the 2024 MLS Cup silverware.
“I doubt many people would have expected to see Yang in the side, and Luke McCowan playing wide was another curveball.
“But it turned out to be a masterstroke. I’m a huge admirer of McCowan – Celtic could do with 11 like him – and he has never let the side down.
“Yang had arguably his best game for the club.
“You look at the impact it had on the likes of Reo Hatate, who was much more like his old self. Daizen Maeda was also like the Maeda of last season.”
Sutton added: “Everyone knows about O’Neill the motivator. He can cut you in half with one of his quips, but he can also make players feel 10 feet tall.
“But don’t overlook his tactical nous, either.
“The off-the-field issues are not going away either it seems. The bad blood from the AGM last week remains and it’s hard to see how peace can be achieved with both sides so entrenched.
“That’s not going to help Nancy, that’s for sure. O’Neill could almost rise above it, but the new man is landing right in the middle.
“There’s no doubt he has coaching credentials and I believe people need to give him a chance on the pitch.
“The question is how he will handle all the other noise. He won’t have experienced anything like it and he’ll need to get off to a positive start.
HOOP HOOP HOORAY…Reo Hatate celebrates his goal to give Celtic the lead in Rotterdam.
“If it goes the other way, it will get very intense, very quickly.
“O’Neill has given Nancy the platform, but he’s definitely going to be a hard act to follow.”
The returning boss has had a startling short-term impact on Celtic after agreeing to step in in the immediate aftermath of Brendan Rodgers’ rapid departure.
The Hoops had slumped to back-to-back league defeats to Dundee at Dens Park and Hearts at Tynecastle when the veteran coach returned to turn things around in fairly spectacular style.
Four successive domestic victories – including a Premier Sports League Cup semi-final triumph over Ibrox opposition – and a Europa League Cup triumph over Feyenoord in Rotterdam emphasise the efforts of the club icon.
The only blip came in Denmark, but O’Neill aims to go out as a winner in the capital tomorrow.
Don’t bet against a triumphant farewell.
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