IT WAS almost 21 years ago that Martin O’Neill last experienced European football as manager of Celtic.
The Irishman was in charge as the Hoops were held to a scoreless stalemate with AC Milan at Parkhead in December 2004.
O’Neill will bridge the gap in Denmark tomorrow night when he leads the team into their 5.45pm kick-off in the Europa League encounter against FC Midtjylland.
And the 73-year-old interim gaffer faces a tough challenge against a team who have won their previous three games in the competition while the Hoops, with Brendan Rodgers in the dug-out, have won one, drawn one and lost one.
EURO MISSION…Martin O’Neill is back after a 21-year gap. I,age courtesy Celtic TV.
O’Neill, of course, has been pitched back into the European battlefield in dramatic circumstances after the resignation of Brendan Rodgers at the start of last week.
The charismatic Irishman guided the team to a 4-0 victory over Falkirk only 48 hours after answering the call from Dermot Desmond. He stopped the rot after two successive Premiership defeats aganst Dundee (0-2) and Hearts (1-3).
And he kept the feelgood factor rolling along when the holders overcame Rangers 3-1 after extra-time in the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday.
Celtic go into tomorrow night’s confrontation with renewed optimism, but O’Neill acknowledged they are up against quality opposition.
He said: “Obviously, you get confidence from beating your big rivals, so that was great for us. But I’ve seen FC Midtjylland play because I was covering their game for TV a few weeks ago and they’re very strong.
“I thought they were great against Nottingham Forest away from home, against a Forest side that are actually quite a physical side themselves.
“Not only are they very good in set-pieces, they’re also a really talented side.
“They were excellent on the evening, won 3-2 and it’s no surprise that they’ve got full points from their games.
“We’ve played well in the two games and we got a few goals, so that helps, but tomorrow evening will be a totally different ball game.”
MAKING A POINT…Martin O’Neill in discussions with assistant Shaun Maloney at Hampden.
The Danes are five points better off than their rivals and O’Neill speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “If I was looking at the table, I would be trying to get 10 points on the board.
“Maybe that might be enough to get through. We’ve only got two home games left, three away. It’s not going to be easy.
“Getting back to it, I’m really excited about it.”
O’Neill added: “If you talk about Celtic and European games, this is where Celtic should be aiming to be, to be playing in big, big games
“That was set as far back as 1967, when the immortal Jock Stein and the best side and the best manager that Celtic have ever had set a standard that it’s very, very difficult to reach.
“And the only way you do that is by eventually winning the European Cup.
“Now, lots of things have changed since then. Big, big money in the game, and so there’s not so much of a level playing field.
“But still, it’s European football and it’s what Celtic should be aspiring to.”
