“You were a credit to the football club,” Martin O’Neill tells his Celtic players

Q: How big a relief is it that you’ve got the victory and the way in which you went about it must have pleased you in the end?

Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, I think both is absolutely right. A relief that we’ve got off the mark, we’ve got some points on the board, we’ve given ourselves a chance because of the result. The game was pretty difficult, but we came through it with flying colours.

I thought we showed all the things. I just said to the team, “You were a credit to the football club.” You can’t get a bigger accolade than that. So they were really, really terrific. We could have caved in, we were doing fine after the penalty goes in, but we came roaring back and the substitutes made a big, big difference as well too. We got a lot of pace up front, but I was just delighted with the whole team.”

Q: The players individually and collectively must have felt quite a lot of pressure coming in to this game, particularly with the way it went, going behind. To dredge up that character, given there was frustration in the stands as well, must have pleased you and them?

Martin O’Neill: “I thought the crowd were brilliant for us when we went behind. I think they wanted to try and see us as much as possible on the front foot. We got re-energised, I think, from the substitutes coming on and they all played their parts, obviously, in a big, big manner. It was everything that we’d shown, I think, and it might just give us a sort of a platform to charge on. It’s not going to be easy, but at least we can park the European events for a few weeks’ time, but this definitely gives us a chance. That’s what it does.”

Q: What does it say about the character, Martin? Because you said prior to the game that confidence naturally might be an issue at the moment on this run. So to have one setback and then another setback and still win the game, what does that say about that?

Martin O’Neill: “I just thought it was a terrific win. In every aspect, I thought we played some really lovely stuff as well, too, and they are a very fine side. There’s no question about it. Very fine team. But as you say, the character shone through in the side. No question about that. Big, big time. Some of these lads who have been at the football club for some time, who have been big winners at the football club, I thought they came to the fore.

“Also some of the lads who joined us, big performances. Listen, it’s hard to single people out. Tierney was fantastic for us. Back four did really well. Colby coming on to a game as well, too. He’s got a massive heart. And wee Mika Baur was magnificent for us in the middle of the pitch.

“But you have to find the net. And we did that. Callum comes on, first touch, puts the ball in the net. That’s really difficult. He definitely can score a goal, plays a little pass as well, too, for one of the other goals. And Duran, who’s been fabulous for us the whole season regardless of where he plays.”

Q: I suppose the life of a manager is it’s either inspired substitutions or is it an argument that those players should have started in the first place?

Martin O’Neill: “No, I’m serious. I’m not standing up for myself. It was designed to do exactly what it did. We have been playing we’ve been playing Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Wednesday, whatever day it happens to be. We have played, I don’t know what, nine games in 23 days or 24 days. Some players needed a little breather and you can get re-energised from coming on the field. So no, absolutely not. So I’m going to say that this was exactly our plan. And those players who came on were going to come on at some stage or another in the game.”

Q: Martin, you said yesterday before the game that you still weren’t sure what your strongest XI would be. When you see the difference that the substitutes made coming on, winning the game, do you feel that after this you are closer to knowing who your strongest players are, what your strongest team would be?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, when everybody gets a proper chance. Jordan Lotomba, that was the first game that he started. So you’re getting to know. And really, there’s a couple of other players who didn’t get on tonight, like Oliver Sorensen and people like you don’t absolutely know yet what they can do on a basis here of playing both European matches and obviously the difficulty of playing the domestic games.

Kassoum Ouattara of Besiktas JK is challenged by Cameron Carter-Vickers of Celtic during the UEFA Europa League match between Celtic FC and Besiktas JK at Celtic Park on November 05, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)

“The domestic games are not easy. I think the players who have come into the football club have been surprised in many aspects by the pace of the domestic game, believe it or not. I’m not saying everything is a great, great moment, but it is the pace of the game and they haven’t been able to, it takes a wee bit of time to adapt. But when we do, then we should know.

“But you keep talking about what we know as their best team. We have to change. We have to have other players come into the side because we cannot, you can’t sustain this really on a basis like we’re doing. So you’re going into big European games, Besiktas are a very fine side. They might be disappointed tonight, but we’ve beaten them and that was a big result for us.”

Q: Maybe just a quick word on Camilo Duran. You must be really pleased the way he took those goals?

Martin O’Neill: “I’m delighted, of course. If you’re talking about knowing your best side, he’ll be in the side. He looked a wee bit tired in the last couple of games. Totally expected to be. It’s been really, really tough. A lot of games that these lads are playing. I digress for a second, I’m not so sure that Mika Baur has played that number of matches in quick succession in his career. But Duran, he’s a class player.”

Q: Martin, you mentioned about potentially using this as a platform. Do you almost need to use it as a platform? Do the players really need to embrace the sort of energy that was in the stadium at full time and use it for what’s to come?

Martin O’Neill: “For what’s to come? Yeah, of course. I think this will give us a big boost of confidence. We’ve got a tough game ahead on Sunday. Then there’s the international break. But tonight, to win the European game tonight is great. The sides that have beaten us, I think Ferencvaros have got 12 points on the board. Benfica the same. The games are tough. Tonight was really tough. But we came through that test, which is a big, big boost for us.”