MARTIN O’NEILL admitted his “surprise” at discovering tomorrow night’s Europa League first leg play-off against VfB Stuttgart at Parkhead would be his 1,000th game as a manager.
And the 73-year-old Irishman is determined to mark the milestone with a victory under the lights in the east end of Glasgow.
A win will be required to give the Hoops some breathing space as they prepare for the second encounter in Germany a week later.
Reflecting on his special occasion, O’Neill said: “It’s a real surprise because I’ve never counted the games, so when the LMA did tell me about it yesterday it did come as a big surprise to me.
“It’s nice to do and it’s really pleasing, but I have to thank Celtic, otherwise it wouldn’t have happened.
THINK ABOUT IT…Martin O’Neill gets a message across to his Celtic players during their 2-2 Europa League draw against Bologna in Italy last month.
“This is a major test for us tomorrow. I’ve said in the past that we went to Feyenoord and got a great result there and then fought with 10 men for about 60 minutes in the match against Bologna.
“I didn’t want those games to not count for something, so we beat Utrecht and now we’re here, so we might as well give it a go.
“Stuttgart are flying at the moment, they’re fourth in the Bundesliga and in a Champions League position.
“We’ve had a look at them and they’re strong, physical and they’ve got a lot of good players, but while we’re there, let’s go for it.”
O’Neill, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “We know it’s going to be a difficult game over the two legs.
“If it had been condensed to one, then you never know, but I’m going to be positive – we will be and we’ll try and get off to a half-decent start.
“That will help us.
“I don’t want us to be fearful of the games. We’ve got to go in with some confidence and if we didn’t get a lift from fighting back on Sunday, then nothing will give you a lift. That was great.”
HAND’S UP…Martin O’Neill acknowledges the Celtic fans.
The Hoops interim gaffer added: “Now I’m accepting the fact that this is a European night and it is a side who are flying in their league.
“But I think you should leave that aside and let us do as much as we can for ourselves rather than considering what the opposition might to do us.”
O’Neill will be clocking up the crucial games in the next few weeks with very little respite.
After VfB Stuttgart, the champions play host to Hibs in a must-win Premiership confrontation at Parkhead on Sunday as they strive to hit top spot with Hearts just three points ahead. The Hoops, though, have a game in hand.
That will be followed by the trip to Germany a week tomorrow and then a league meeting at Ibrox three days later.
Then it’s onto Pittodrie for the rearranged match against Aberdeen on the Wednesday and a whirlwind spell of away fixtures is concluded with a Scottish Cup quarter-final against Danny Ruhl’s side in Govan on Sunday March 8.
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