Martin O'Neill, the newly appointed Celtic manager, has been hailed as a breath of fresh air in the wake of his impressive 4-0 win over Falkirk. The Northern Irishman's return to the dugout marked the first game he had managed for the club since being unveiled just under two weeks ago.
O'Neill's first press conference was met with skepticism by many, who questioned whether he was more than just a short-term fix. However, his team's convincing performance on Wednesday night has silenced some of those critics and restored confidence in his ability to turn the ship around at Parkhead.
The 73-year-old manager, who has been open about his anxiety issues in the past, joked that his pre-game nerves had calmed somewhat after winning the game. "I've not seen Celtic often, not live, to make criticism of this side," he quipped. "A restoration of confidence was great."
O'Neill's tactics and man-management have already made a positive impact on the team. Veteran winger James Forrest was restored into the starting lineup, while Auston Trusty returned to the defense, allowing for a more attacking approach.
The win over Falkirk has narrowed Celtic's gap at the top of the table to six points, and O'Neill is now setting his sights on their next challenge: a League Cup semi-final against Rangers. Despite admitting that he's still learning about his new players, the manager remains optimistic about his team's prospects.
"It's been at Celtic for quite a considerable time, getting the ball forward quickly," O'Neill told Celtic TV. "Sometimes we played it and we played it too quickly, it's fine. As long as there's an end product. We'll see how we can come out of the game."
The 73-year-old manager's age was also on his mind, but he refused to dwell on it. Instead, he focused on his team's performance and the importance of winning their next game.
"So, mission accomplished. If he completes his next one, O'Neill can expect to be asked about his future plans a fair bit more."
O'Neill's first press conference was met with skepticism by many, who questioned whether he was more than just a short-term fix. However, his team's convincing performance on Wednesday night has silenced some of those critics and restored confidence in his ability to turn the ship around at Parkhead.
The 73-year-old manager, who has been open about his anxiety issues in the past, joked that his pre-game nerves had calmed somewhat after winning the game. "I've not seen Celtic often, not live, to make criticism of this side," he quipped. "A restoration of confidence was great."
O'Neill's tactics and man-management have already made a positive impact on the team. Veteran winger James Forrest was restored into the starting lineup, while Auston Trusty returned to the defense, allowing for a more attacking approach.
The win over Falkirk has narrowed Celtic's gap at the top of the table to six points, and O'Neill is now setting his sights on their next challenge: a League Cup semi-final against Rangers. Despite admitting that he's still learning about his new players, the manager remains optimistic about his team's prospects.
"It's been at Celtic for quite a considerable time, getting the ball forward quickly," O'Neill told Celtic TV. "Sometimes we played it and we played it too quickly, it's fine. As long as there's an end product. We'll see how we can come out of the game."
The 73-year-old manager's age was also on his mind, but he refused to dwell on it. Instead, he focused on his team's performance and the importance of winning their next game.
"So, mission accomplished. If he completes his next one, O'Neill can expect to be asked about his future plans a fair bit more."
I think Martin O'Neill's win over Falkirk is just that - a win 
, but it doesn't necessarily mean he's the silver bullet that'll turn Celtic around. It's good that he's got some of the old guard back in the team, like James Forrest, and it's nice to see Auston Trusty in defense too.
. The fact that his age is still on people's minds is a bit concerning. Can he bring a new level of enthusiasm and creativity to the team without relying too much on experience? We'll have to wait and see, but I'm looking forward to seeing how this unfolds 
. I mean, he’s only been there for like two weeks and already his tactics and man-management have made a difference 
. It’s not just about winning games, it’s about confidence and morale, and from what I’ve seen, O’Neill has that in spades 
. Like, who hasn’t had those moments before a big game? It shows that he's human too, not just some stuffy old manager 
. Anyway, I think Celtic fans are going to be in for a treat with O’Neill at the helm 
.
. HIS EXPERIENCE IS GOING TO BE GOLDEN, ESPECIALLY WITH JAMES FORREST BACK IN THE LINEUP! BUT LET'S BE REAL, IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG SEASON AND HE'LL NEED TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM UP TO TAKE ON RANGERS IN THE LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINALS 
just watched celtic beat falkirk 4-0 lol they look so much better under new manager 
martin o'nneil is the real deal 
gotta respect his game face 
now let's see them take on rangers in the league cup 
. But seriously though, it's not like he's got a magic wand to turn around the team overnight. He needs time, and if he doesn't deliver... well let's just say there'll be plenty of armchair managers out here 
. Anyway, can't wait to see how this whole O'Neill saga unfolds 
. Will he bring some much-needed stability or just be another flash in the pan? We'll have to wait and see 
i mean who needs confidence when you can just win games and silence your doubters? and yeah, his tactics are already paying off - rangers better watch out or they'll be the ones looking like the laughing stock