Martin O’Neill believes Celtic will attempt to behave like a Champions League membership within the subsequent 5 days regardless of lacking out on the riches of the competitors.
4 targets up on mixture, Tuesday’s astonishing collapse towards Austrian champions LASK got here with the veteran nonetheless to finalise his squad for the season.
Regardless of signing 4 gamers, the membership didn’t seal offers for targets together with Ermin Mahmic, Landon Emenalo, Niko Sigur and Gvidas Gineitis earlier than the play-off.
O’Neill stays optimistic that potential recruits will nonetheless be tempted by Europa League soccer — and feels the membership intend investing considerably forward of the window closing on Thursday.
‘I truthfully assume that’s the membership’s purpose,’ mentioned O’Neill. ‘We’ve introduced in a few gamers that I feel will do actually wonderful for us. I’m hoping that there’s a chance earlier than the switch deadline to make the squad stronger, to make it higher.
‘And to compete in European soccer, you want that.’
Martin O’Neill believes Celtic can nonetheless herald high quality regardless of exiting the Champions League
Requested what positions he was seeking to prioritise, O’Neill added: ‘You’d be undoubtedly in search of a left-back for [cover for] Kieran [Tierney], as a result of Kieran’s not going to, with the best respect, play all of the video games on the finish of the day.
‘You’d want most likely want a extremely robust alternative for Arne Engels, a box-to-box midfield participant.
‘We undoubtedly simply would want strengthening and that’s what we’re going to attempt to do.’
In the meantime, O’Neill feels Celtic have been dealt a troublesome hand as they bid to make an affect within the Europa League.
The Scottish champions have been handed dwelling matches towards Marseille, Celta Vigo, Besiktas and Ferencvaros.
They can even journey to play Benfica, Union Saint-Gilloise, Omonia and shock Portuguese Cup winners Torreense.
O’Neill helped Celtic progress to the knockout spherical final season by accruing 11 factors and he feels this 12 months’s job will each bit as troublesome.
O’Neill expects the membership to supply backup for Kieran Tierney earlier than the switch window closes
‘I most likely nonetheless haven’t obtained over the sport on Tuesday night time, but it surely’s one thing to stay up for, I have to admit,’ mentioned O’Neill. ‘There are some actually good video games there.
‘I’ve obtained the record right here in my pocket. I noticed Benfica, I by no means learn any additional…’
O’Neill, who expects Callum McGregor to be obtainable to face Falkirk at the moment after lacking coaching yesterday by means of sickness, has challenged his gamers to point out what they’re made from.
‘I do know it’s an overused phrase, however we’ve to point out plenty of character,’ he added. ‘There’ll be moments within the recreation, misplaced passes, permitting Falkirk in, photographs at aim, perhaps even going a aim behind within the recreation the place the group would wish to get actually stressed.
‘Completely, so we’ve to combat that. However that’s all the time been the case. And have you learnt what? I wouldn’t anticipate it to.
‘We are able to’t reside on laurels for the remainder of our time. Final season was simply incredible, nice moments, but it surely’s gone.’
