MARTIN O’NEILL insists he has no thoughts of a Celtic legacy after remarks from Chris Sutton following the team’s 3-1 Europa League loss against FC Midtjylland in Denmark last night.
The Hoops took a battering for most of the encounter and were on the receiving end of a brutal first-half salvo when the Danes fired three goals past Kasper Schmeichel in a devastating eight-minute spell.
The visitors steadied the ship after the turnaround and a late penalty-kick from Reo Hatate put a better complexion on the final scoreline.
But Sutton, O’Neill’s first signing for the club in his initial stint when he paid £6million to Chelsea in July 2000, warned his old gaffer about possibly spoiling his reputation.
After the loss, the one-time England international striker took to social media to air his views: “Sobering night for Celtic… no great surprise. Midtjylland better in every department.”
Sutton went on to say: “Great to see Martin O’Neill return and the wins against Falkirk and Rangers, but I’d hate to see Martin stay on too long and damage his legacy.”
Asked about his former player’s comments, the 73-year-old interim gaffer responded: “I’ve honestly no concern about a legacy, never have had.
“If you’re talking about a legacy, then you can talk about Jock Stein and that great 1967 side. So, I’m not worried about a legacy.
“We had a great victory over Rangers and that’s fine. But, really, I’m very, very aware that it is one game at a time. You win a game then you maybe win another.
“I’m not saying that we’re back to basics again, you lose the game disappointingly and I think it was the manner in which we conceded the goals.
“But getting back to your point about the legacy, it genuinely doesn’t worry me one jot, never has done. When you’re dead, you’re dead.”
Teenage frontman Callum Osmand, a goal hero in the 3-1 victory over Ibrox opposition in the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final on Sunday, was stretched off late in the match in Denmark with what looked like hamstring problems.
Arne Engels limped off near the end while crocked striker Kelechi Iheanacho again failed to get a place in the matchday squad.
Images courtesy: Celtic TV.
O’Neill gave an injury update as he prepared his players for Sunday’s 4pm kick-off against Kilmarnock at Parkhead and, speaking to Celtic TV, said: “Callum has gone for a scan this morning.
“We haven’t got any news back yet, but it doesn’t look good.”
On £11million man Engels, the stand-in gaffer said: “He’s a little bit sore at this moment.
“We’re hoping he’s going to be okay. I think it was just more stretching than anything else.”
Nigerian international hitman Iheanacho, who signed on UEFA deadline day, will again be a no-show.
O’Neill added: “He is going to be a few more weeks.
“After Sunday, we’ve got this fortnight break and we’ll see how things go from there.”
‘THINGS WE HAVE TO ADDRESS,’ O’NEILL’S VERDICT
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