Martin O’Neill has revealed that he’d secretly love to steer Celtic out at Hampden once more subsequent month after they edged a pulsating Premier Sports activities Cup semi-final with Rangers.
Main by means of Johnny Kenny’s header, the holders properly on their option to a December 14 date with St Mirren when Thelo Aasgaard was despatched off shortly earlier than half time.
However the 10 males of Rangers rallied within the second half and deservedly took the sport into extra-time by means of James Tavernier’s penalty.
Twenty years after his final journey to the nationwide stadium, although, O’Neill was to benefit from the excellent return with additional objectives from Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand — his first for the membership — sending Celtic by means of.
O’Neill, who’s now 73, was put in interim cost following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation and, as issues stand, believes he’s solely set to take cost for Thursday’s Europa League recreation away to Midtjylland and subsequent Sunday’s house league recreation with Kilmarnock.
Requested whether or not he’d be open to a dialogue with powerbroker Dermot Desmond about the potential of remaining in cost longer, although, he said: ‘The very apparent reply can be sure, I’d do. However I genuinely don’t know what to anticipate.
Martin O’Neill says he can be open to discussions about extending his keep as interim boss
O’Neill was stuffed with reward for Celtic captain Callum McGregor who scored in further time
Callum Osmand celebrates scoring Celtic’s third purpose within the Premier Sports activities Cup semi-final
‘Once I noticed the video games they’d after which the worldwide break, I assumed they’ll have a few weeks to consider it.
‘I haven’t even spoken to him since that. In a perverse type of means I’ve loved the 2 video games — however not rather a lot.’
O’Neill’s final recreation at Hampden was a Scottish Cup remaining victory over Dundee United in 2005. When the concept that he might be again to steer the staff out once more was put to him, he added: ‘Nicely, secretly you’d like to, you already know. It’s December time.
‘Look, we’re within the outcomes enterprise and all of this stuff can change. If we’d acquired crushed at this time, I won’t even have seen Thursday.’
With Rodgers profitable the quarter-final in opposition to Partick Thistle, a change of supervisor earlier than the ultimate would see Celtic have three totally different males within the dug-out in three rounds.
‘That’s true, however it may possibly occur,’ mentioned O’Neill. ‘That may undoubtedly be a primary as traditionally I doubt it’s occurred earlier than.
‘I’ve performed a small half. The backroom employees have been nice for me. I’m type of taking credit score for his or her efforts.’
O’Neill noticed his aspect bounce again in a fascinating contest which Rangers regarded like profitable at one level regardless of being a person gentle.
‘It’s a sense of clearly being delighted to win, reduction from that viewpoint as properly,’ added the veteran boss. ‘I’m delighted to have received however there’s definitely issues we might have improved on.
‘I don’t know what it was, however eleven v ten we must always have taken extra management, I felt. That spell within the first half in significantly I felt we had been wonderful.
‘It was a very unusual feeling to be within the Hampden dressing room, actually unusual, but it surely was good to win.
‘If it had been the opposite means round it might have been an actual sickener.’
O’Neill was effusive in his reward of skipper McGregor, who delivered his greatest show of the season.
‘He’s only a nice participant,’ he added. ‘I’ve been saying this for a few days, and clearly his efficiency after I had the staff on Wednesday night…
‘I’ve watched Celtic intermittently and also you suppose: “Yeah, he’s a very good participant”. It is just whenever you get into the job itself that you just realise how actually good he’s. Good captain as properly, vociferous within the dressing room, which is nice, and might play — can actually play. My expectation of him is so excessive.’
O’Neill additionally praised the contribution of Kenny and Osmand, two forwards who struggled for recreation time in Rodgers’ later days.
‘Johnny scored the purpose. Yeah, he’s a younger child coming into the sport,’ he mentioned.
‘The opposite lad’s (Osmand) an fascinating character. He’s acquired loads of confidence and when he learns to play centre-forward correctly, it’ll be nice.
‘He does a little bit of flicking right here and there, however he’s sharp and he desires to go, and he acquired the purpose and he definitely celebrated.
‘And if the sport had gone to penalties and Rangers had received, I’d have… he missed an awesome probability earlier than that, didn’t he?
‘Yeah, so he won’t have seen tomorrow himself. Delighted. Didn’t he milk it as properly?’
