Martin O’Neill desires Arne Engels and Alistair Johnston to safe Celtic’s place within the Champions League earlier than pondering huge strikes to England.
Engels has already been the topic of 1 failed bid from West Ham, with the Parkhead membership braced for a bumper provide from Everton for Johnston.
However, after being paired with Austrian champions LASK within the play-off spherical yesterday, O’Neill feels it’s crucial that Celtic’s development to the group stage takes precedence over the prospect to financial institution one other two big switch charges.
‘Ideally that may be good, that may be actually good,’ mentioned the Parkhead boss. ‘We wouldn’t know if the opposite golf equipment would wish to pursue that, if that was the case.
‘I’m fairly certain that anyone beginning off in their very own explicit leagues would need their gamers in as quickly as attainable. However, ideally, that may be nice.
‘I believe that’s one of many issues we’ll positively be taking a look at. You’d should take the gamers’ ideas into consideration and possibly the opposite golf equipment. However total, for me, selfishly, that may be nice.’
Martin O’Neill has harassed that he desires his males centered on Champions League qualification
Celtic’s title defence received off to a profitable begin with Benjamin Nygren’s second-half header sufficient to see off Dundee.
Though naturally happy to get the three factors, O’Neill felt the efficiency fell wanting expectations.
‘I didn’t assume we performed significantly nicely for many of the recreation, however we did sufficient to win,’ he added.
‘We had some actually nice possibilities and will possibly have put the sport to mattress lots earlier. However, total, I assumed we had been a bit rusty.
‘It was a typical first recreation of the season and I’m hoping we’ll get higher for subsequent week.’
Though Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran made their debuts, Celtic’s lack of incoming switch exercise was manifest in a lacklustre show.
Alistair Johnston performed the total 90 minutes as Celtic opened their marketing campaign with a 1-0 win
O’Neill is adamant that he didn’t have to witness such a sticky present to know that new recruits are a precedence.
‘Effectively, I’m hoping that we’ll get some gamers in,’ he harassed. ‘That’s the purpose. We’ve got two and so they’re first rate gamers for us however we’re striving to get some extra in.
‘I’ve a good suggestion of what we’d like — I ought to do, I’m the supervisor. However that wouldn’t have made any distinction to the consequence or efficiency tonight. I nonetheless know what we’d like.’
O’Neill feels it’s important that the brand new additions are in rivalry to play towards LASK when the house leg arrives in a fortnight.
‘I’d positively like that,’ he mentioned. ‘I believe crucial factor is clearly getting the gamers in but in addition getting them to work with one another.
‘They (LASK) are Austrian champions. So, it will likely be troublesome for us. If that had been our first recreation tonight, we’d have been in a little bit of hassle. However we get the prospect to take a look at them, as they are going to do with us.’
Arne Engels chats with new boy Kasper Hogh at full-time within the season-opening victory
Hogh had a irritating debut with a string of half possibilities coming and going with out him getting his first aim for his new membership. He advised Sky Sports activities: ‘It was so good to get a debut and I’m proud of the win.
‘We’ve got superb followers — and I do know I’ve to go to capturing apply!
‘I used to be simply completely satisfied to be on the pitch and assist the staff to win. I’ve to adapt to the grass. It’s a special factor for me.’
Requested about that comment, with Hogh’s former membership Bodo/Glimt enjoying on a synthetic floor, O’Neill mentioned: ‘I don’t wish to make any excuses. He knew that we performed on grass.
‘I’ll communicate to him tonight to see what he considered the pitch. As a result of it’s positively not plastic. However he’ll do tremendous. He missed just a few possibilities tonight.’
Dundee boss Steven Pressley mentioned: ‘I requested for a efficiency stuffed with endeavour and spirit and I assumed we received that in abundance.’
