Celtic manager’s plans to rejuvenate players and supporters

Martin O’Neill on his plans to rejuvenate the players and supporters…

There’s no getting away from the fact that we were brutally embarrassed and exposed on Tuesday evening in Linz, as we were ruthlessly denied a place in the Champions League group stages, despite holding such a commanding 4-0 lead with an hour of football to play.

The players are hurting, the supporters even more so, and so is manager Martin O’Neill, who was still clearly hurting in his Friday press briefings.

The Celtic players have rightfully come in for their fair share of criticism, some justified, and some not so much, in particular Luke McCowan who was forced to delete his Instagram account following his role in the defeat.

The veteran Irishman, who is renowned for his ability install confidence in players, has a big task on his hands in a bid to work his magic to rejuvenate the demoralised and vilified players going forward.

He admits it’s a different challenge in the present day due to the presence of social media, which wasn’t around during his memorable first spell at the club twenty odd years ago.

The Celtic boss explained: “Generally speaking, I’m not in the mood for putting arms around players at this minute, but I will. I do think things have changed, greatly.

“There have been a lot of trophies that have been won in the last 20-odd years. And I think my own experiences from when I came here at 48 until 74, life has really changed a lot. No such thing as social media existed in those days, like Luke McCowan taking lots of abuse. I just think life in general has changed.

“If it hadn’t been Luke, it would have been somebody else. I was only pointing that out as sort of an example of how things have gone. People have been, throughout time, people subjected to lots of abuse now. And it just seems to be the way. That’s my experience.”

The Irishman also spoke of his desire to stop a flow of negativity creeping in, just as it did last season after the Champions League play off defeat to Kairat Almaty, a factor that almost crippled the entirety of our campaign.

“Are you going to stem the flow of negativity?” pondered Martin. “I just think this is it. I think that people, first of all, you have to be disappointed, and if you’re angry at that. I accept those things, absolutely accept them.

“But somewhere along the way we as a football club, have to get back up again as quickly as possible. Try and ride the disappointment out. And if I turn around and say this here, learn from it. Learn from it.

“If there are lessons to be learned, if there is a common denominator about not making it into the Champions League for each time you’ve had to play a qualifying game, let’s genuinely analyse that.”

Celtic take on Falkirk this afternoon at Celtic Park and first steps towards restoring both morale and confidence can be achieved with a decent performance and of course a victory. The support too needs lifting and the way to do that is for the players to put on a show.

Three points today will put us eight points ahead of the Rangers who play Aberdeen a Pittodrie tomorrow. It has the makings of an interesting weekend!

Enjoy the game today and of course COYBIG!