Celtic 2-2 Dundee United – Martin O’Neill’s Reaction to a Frustrating Night in Paradise
Martin O’Neill spoke to the mainstream media after Celtic frustrating 2-2 draw with Dundee United at Celtic Park last night…
With Hearts and the Rangers drawing with the same scoreline at Tynecastle it’s as you were with the top four in the Scottish Premiership with Celtic maintaining a four points lead at the top of the table. Here’s everything that Martin O’Neill had to say in the media room inside Celtic Park…
Q: What did you make of your side’s performance?
Martin O’Neill: “I thought that we were very, very strong in the second half, naturally from our viewpoint we conceded some poor goals, but we fought back and I just thought we were going to win it at the end. We could have ended up losing it as well too. On the break I thought Dundee United were very dangerous and they played very well in the game. Just a bit of frustration that we didn’t, with the possession and the territory that we had, we didn’t get the winning goal. But who’s to say how important the point might be?”
Q: Do you think the draw was a fair result?
Martin O’Neill: “Well, at the end we had a lot of possession. Hassan in particular was causing a lot of problems to them. I just thought once or twice that when he’s whipping balls in that we could have maybe attacked them a wee bit better. But overall, a lot of possession. I thought we were going to win it. I thought the crowd stayed with us. They naturally get frustrated but I know this from past experiences. It was a tough old evening but we got something out of it.”
Q: You conceded two goals in three minutes. It’s now just one clean sheet in the last eight games. How concerning is that for you?
Martin O’Neill: “I think naturally we can do better. I think that we could have done better for the goals. But every single goal that’s conceded, every manager and every player on the team that’s conceded will say that he could have done better.”
Q: You must have been pleased with your second half substitutions?
Martin O’Neill: “I thought we needed it. Young Callum Osmand, his natural position is a striker or playing alongside somebody that’s got a bit of strength. I’ve been really pleased with him. But we made the changes. Kasper again I thought worked really hard in the match for us. He set up the goal for us as well too. But we just wanted a change and we thought we’re going to go wide with the two players who can take people on. Yeah sometimes you’re gambling as well too. So as I said to you about United on the break. And then one occasion we played a short corner, lost it and Mika Baur makes a fantastic effort to get back and save the night for us. But yeah, we’re still pleased with the team.”
Q: Is Jota getting close to a start?
Martin O’Neill: “Well, I think that’s a little off at the moment. Yeah, a little off.
Q: Are you starting to see glimpse of his old self again?
Martin O’Neill: “Well, you know what, when he was here first time obviously I wasn’t here. I hear very good things about him. He was a really fine player. And yeah, so if he could get back to that type of form, which is going to take a little bit of time having been so long out of the game.”
Q: You mentioned Kasper Hogh, when you see the balls flashing into the box in the second half, would he feel a bit aggrieved that he didn’t get that service in the first half?
Martin O’Neill: “That’s probably very true.”
Q: He just needs to keep plugging away and hope that it works?
Martin O’Neill: “You know, he, as I said to you, he played a part. I thought he worked exceptionally hard for us again. One or two things that he tried maybe didn’t come off, but overall he’s made the goal. That will give him a boost of confidence. Yeah, and you’re right. So we put on two wide players and then I’m sure he probably was frustrated that he’s sitting and not playing a part in the second half.”
Q: Martin, do you consider it a kind of missed opportunity given the fact that your two title rivals drew this evening? Or you happy not to lose and still be four points clear?
Martin O’Neill: “That’s true. That is true and we cannot control anything that’s happening elsewhere. The disappointment and the frustration comes from not winning a home game. That’s really it. But considering the trials and tribulations over the last number of weeks, yeah, I’m not totally dissatisfied.”
Q: What was your view of Sam Johnstone?
Martin O’Neill: “Sam, yeah, I thought he did fine, really fine in the game. So it’ll take us a few weeks before we find out who will stay in goal for hopefully the rest of the season.”
Q: Do you have to have some concerns about the kind of lack of control in games?
Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, I think, I think sometimes the lack of control comes from, you know, losing possession quite easily. Sometimes the move breaks down. Next thing you know that we’re stranded because we are essentially at Celtic Park controlling the game, controlling it. And so we’ve pressed a lot of players forward, centre halves moving into midfield and beyond. Next thing you know, if it breaks down there is danger. So that’s something that we have to try and eliminate.”
Here’s Martin O’Neill’s post-match media conference after Celtic’s 2-2 draw with Dundee United at Celtic Park last night…
And here are the match highlights..
