MARTIN O’NEILL insists Celtic MUST strengthen next season to cope with the challenges that will be coming their way.
The charismatic Irishman led the Hoops to a fifth successive title following one of the most turbulent campaigns in recent memory.
O’Neill, during his two stints as interim manager, maintained his focus to inspire his players over the line at the weekend when they beat Hearts 3-1 in a rousing grand finale at Parkhead.
The triumph – with Arne Engels (pen), Daizen Maeda and Callum Osmand replying to the opener from Lawrence Shankland – gave the holders a two-point advantage over the Edinburgh club that had led the Premiership for most of the season.
PARADISE REGAINED…Martin O’Neill celebrates his fourth Celtic title success.
But O’Neill admitted he had the greatest respect for what the capital club achieved in the champions’ rollercoaster crusade.
The 74-year-old gaffer expects Derek McInnes’ side to learn from the experience of coming so close to the club’s first championship since 1960 and come back even stronger next time out.
And O’Neill also believes there will be a resurgence at Ibrox after so many people’s favourites for the flag before nosediving big-style after the split and losing four – including a 3-1 defeat at Parkhead – of their last five games.
Celtic’s interim manager is out of contract at the end of the month and is not expecting to return following the Scottish Cup Final against Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline at Hampden on Saturday.
O’Neill hopes the club get their preparations spot on in what could be a hectic summer and said: “We have to look at all the things I’ve spoken about over the last couple of months. That doesn’t change from us winning.
“I think Hearts have been the story this year. They came roaring into it. They will get stronger and if Rangers have anything to do with it, they’ll get stronger, too. We have to try to get stronger, not just match it.
“Like what Jock Stein set down in 1967 – we’ll never get close to that – but we should be thinking about trying to compete in European football. That takes a really fine player to be able to cope domestically and have a bash in Europe.
A BUNCH OF THREES…Arne Engels shows his joy after netting the first Celtic goal from the penalty spot while (middle) Daizen Maeda’s delight is put on hold before the second strike is awarded and (bottom) Callum Osmand races away in triumph after sealing the title with his stoppage-time third.
“There is not that much time. Some of the players will head off to the World Cup. Winning the title might give us an extra week because we would have been back earlier for qualification games. But it’s no length of time. Not for me.”
O’Neill, speaking to The Scotsman, continued: “My contract is up to May 31 and I’m down to do a couple of wee things, talking my usual, and I want to fulfil those things.
“So, I won’t have a lot of time, even if they ask me. But it’s dead right, they need to reset and start thinking about what’s next.
“There are some fine players here, but they need supplemented.
“I don’t think anybody saw Hearts’ challenge coming up, considering where they finished last year.
“But they bought some really fine players and they had the advantage in a sense of not having European football and going out of the domestic Cup competitions.
“They were playing one game a week while we struggled through those times.
“That can happen.”
The veteran team chief added: “For Celtic, this was a wonderful day and it took an enormous effort.
“We’d not been in front in the league until we score the second goal.
“Celtic are used to dominating, but you can’t take that for granted – you shouldn’t do. But with Hearts and Rangers getting stronger, we need to do the same.”
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