Archive December 4, 2025

He arrived. He won. A tracksuit was nicked by him.

Martin O’Neill’s return to Celtic was nothing short of disappointing. Box office press conferences, a revival of fortunes in the league, and line after line lapped up by the adoring Parkhead supporters.

As Wilfried Nancy prepares to take over, the 73-year-old’s adulation pours out of the place, and on Wednesday, it was gushing on his final bow.

O’Neill led a lap of honor around Celtic Park, received player ovations, and sang his name as the team’s 1-0 victory over Dundee brought them level with Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

He declared, “These players have been absolutely fantastic, and that’s why they are champions.” It’s been a privilege, they say.

O’Neill’s performance in front of the Celtic Park main stand and in front of the media mirrored that of the team he’s helped put back on the rails.

“Do you know what?” He declared in the press release, “I’m going to take the tracksuit.” “Steven, the kit man, he doesn’t know, but I’m putting this in the bag,” he said.

O’Neill is a showman, much like his ancestor Brendan Rodgers.

The self-centered Northern Irishman may have carried himself over these past few weeks with a modest air of amazement, but his presence has been a PR and coaching masterstroke.

The stand-in between the board and the stands has been created by the wily old fox, his patter, and his influence.

It was abandoned as a result of fan protests at the recent club AGM, which was a common practice during Rodgers’ final months.

Celtic’s disastrous attempt to qualify for the Champions League has spewed and sparked like hot lava from some of the support.

O’Neill made a shift when he arrived. In the midst of discombobulation and unrest, it provided a commonality and a serene calm.

Eight games, seven victories, and a place in the League Cup final.

Celtic are now eight points off Hearts’ top flight and still have a chance to win. There have been some ways to win, but it hasn’t been as swashbuckling as there was when Rotterdam defeated Feyenoord in the Europa League.

O’Neill said, “It’s like a complete blur,” referring to the time when his life had been “back at Celtic.”

I didn’t want to mess up Easter Road tonight because I had secretly hoped that it would be the last game played against Hibernan last Sunday.

O’Neill’s explosive arrival helped Celtic escape a hole. However, some might argue that the man coming after him is under a little pressure due to how well-timed and sentimental his fond farewell is.

The experienced boss claimed he had no plans to leave the position permanently and was claiming when he arrived in Glasgow. We will never know whether he had ulterior ambitions in secret.

However, some fans were consistently warming up, suggesting that O’Neill, who has demonstrated that he is the safest of the safes, should stay put for a while longer. Be at least given the chance to play Celtic for St Mirren in the League Cup final on Sunday.

Instead, Nancy will have to deal with a series of events that require him to run the gamut of an Olympic sprinter.

Hearts will visit Celtic on Sunday. Roma, the Serie A powerhouse, travels to Glasgow on Thursday after that. Then Hampden’s final.

With a trophy in the cabinet, Celtic could complete their hat-trick of games at the top of the league and advance to the Europa League knockout stages.

Or maybe not at all.

It’s a massive baptism of fire trying to navigate your way through for any new manager. O’Neill’s continued position may have relieved that immediate pressure, but trust has been placed on his successor.

O’Neill will leave with his anticipated legacy intact and, if anything, improved, and Celtic’s season has been settled. For Nancy to follow it’s a difficult task.

A Celtic team with a new identity is left behind by the club legend. He regains his faith and leaves behind a support. A high bar is left behind by him.

A potential storybook season being developed at Tynecastle was just a little over a month ago, according to observers outside of Scottish football.

An eight-point gap at the Scottish Premiership summit had been closed by Hearts’ statement 3-1 victory over reigning champions Celtic. There was a title challenge.

Six games later, the Edinburgh side’s advantage has vanished, with Celtic having only played one game more and a trip to Parkhead looming on Sunday.

Victory in Glasgow’s east end will rekindle interest in Derek McInnes’ pursuit of the title, but the month of August has provided a wake-up call.

Fourth in the last six games, Wednesday’s draw with Kilmarnock received a small amount of dissatisfaction from the fans.

Former Hearts winger Neil McCann blasted the situation on Sportscene, saying, “There was a little booing, probably out of frustration.”

We shall not be moved was sung repeatedly throughout the campaign’s stunning debut by The Hearts support. Even head coach McInnes’ video appeared to be entertaining.

Too early to be taken away? That is undoubtedly what some people will say, but why shouldn’t those scenes have taken place?

Nobody has the authority to control the emotions in a fanbase, but recent weeks have served as a sharp reminder of how difficult it is to keep a non-Old Firm side in the lead without even winning a title.

At this point, nothing is undoubtedly ruled out. Yes, Hearts and an unconvincing Celtic are now on equal terms, but McInnes’ men are still in command.

In 15 games, they have only lost once. Six goals are still scored by them over the Parkhead side in second place. They are still nine points clear of Rangers.

When McInnes’ side thrashed the Glasgow club at Tynecastle in late October, Brendan Rodgers was in charge of Celtic.

The Northern Irishman’s final game was when he resigned abruptly the following day.

In a bid to close the top-four position, legendary Celtic boss Martin O’Neill made a comeback as interim manager to take the lead.

Hearts’ stuttering league form has been a part of that. They have only once won since beating Celtic: a 4-0 victory over Dundee, which was a struggling club.

The results have been consistent for Celtic, who have not pulled up the trees with some league displays, but goals have recently been a problem for the leaders.

Hearts were forced to make up for failing to put the game to bed in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock because they have only scored twice in two of their previous four games.

According to Sportscene pundit Scott Allan, “Hearts were always going to go through a spell where they wouldn’t win games but they’re not losing them.”

They each have a point to add up to when they leave these games.

When Hearts appeared to be threatening to make the impossible possible, McInnes, the experienced manager, never got carried away in front of the media.

He wouldn’t be swept out either if he won on Sunday. If there is another outcome that doesn’t go his way, he won’t be too depressed.

He anticipates that Celtic will benefit from Wilfried Nancy’s appointment, whose first game will be played on Sunday.

This season already points to the start of an exciting new era for Hearts and the Scottish game.

Daniel Farke, manager of Leeds United, was anticipating aglow.

The German then walked over to the crowd with a wide smile on his face after the final whistle of Chelsea’s game on Wednesday.

With a stunning 3-1 victory over Enzo Maresca’s Blues, Leeds had just ended a four-game losing streak that had begun the day in the relegation zone with a miserable 11 points from 13 games.

After a run-in with their previous six matches, Farke was under increasing pressure, and his future was becoming more uncertain.

Senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel reported to BBC Sport that “sources have informed the BBC Sport that the process has begun to look for potential replacements.”

“Regardless of the incumbent’s job security, it is common practice for clubs to develop a succession plan for their managerial position.”

However, Farke has been put under significant pressure by Leeds’ poor form, which put them in the relegation zone prior to Wednesday’s victory, amplifying the club’s effort to find potential replacements for the German.

However, Farke’s side looked revitalized at Elland Road as they called the shots against Chelsea, who are currently in the bottom three.

We were so desperate to restore the club to its best level for nights like this. According to “Farke,” Edgerton reported to BBC Match of the Day that Land Road was at its best again.

“A fantastic performance from my lads against one of the world’s best sides,” they said.

Although Farke’s position may still be controversial, the victory gives Leeds’ players and supporters much-needed moral support.

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock expressed his excitement on BBC Radio 5 Live, “That is a huge result for Daniel Farke.”

Things for Leeds started to change since their initial encounter with Chelsea.

Farke switched to a 3-5-2 formation, a move that had proved successful at Etihad Stadium, in the second half of his 3-2 defeat against Manchester City.

“You have to be adaptable and flexible if you want to be promoted,” says the proverb. Farke asserted that he is married to principles rather than a formation.

On Wednesday, it resumed its operation. With a newfound intensity and a quick exit from the blocks, Leeds appeared dynamic in attack.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville stated on Sky Sports, “This is his first time playing this system at Leeds this season, and I have to say it looks like a blueprint.”

Three big centre-backs, two runners in the middle of the pitch, excellent in wide areas, and a pair of quick-fire runners.

The bottom three’s victory will give them an enormous boost, but their victory will give them an even bigger boost once they’ve won a significant match and perhaps found a way to advance.”

With goals from Jaka Bijol and Ao Tanaka helping Leeds, Farke was given a head start in his system, while Chelsea’s defense struggled with forwards Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

However, after letting slips against Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest last month, Pedro Neto’s goal came back for Chelsea five minutes later.

However, Leeds continued to exert force and Tosin Adarabioyo’s poor concentration caused Calvert-Lewin to stumble and put the game to rest.

With the new system and the belief, “the last game and a half could change Leeds’ season,” Warnock continued.

Farke was soon receiving a warm reception from Leeds fans after the final whistle whistle whistled against Chelsea.

Steph Houghton, a former Lionesses defender, said on BBC Radio 5 Live, “The worst thing for fans is when the manager is doing the same things over and over again and you are not seeing any change.”

Even though they were defeated by Manchester City late in the first two games, it has actually proved to be better because of Frakes’ ability to be more adaptable and try to find a solution.

You could see that tonight’s supporters admire that because you have been brave enough to acknowledge that you are in the Premier League and that you are going to try to adapt and make things happen.

Neville continued, “Lessons fans were enthused, “Has the coach got a plan B?” Will he be able to rescue us from this mess? Although the pressure was building, tonight’s performance could result in significantly more points scored.

On Anfield’s most recent desperate night, one world-class Liverpool legend was thrust into a fierce new spotlight.

Mohamed Salah was called to the bench for Sunderland’s second successive Premier League game on Wednesday despite the club’s poor form this season.

Virgil van Dijk, the captain who has swept up the entire collection of major prizes, whose poor form attracted the most attention during the 1-1 draw, was the subject of conversation. Van Dijk is the unmatched defensive foundation as Liverpool have won every major award.

Van Dijk, 34, and Salah, 33, both signed lucrative new two-year contracts in the summer, with Liverpool’s decision to award contracts to veteran duos much sooner than the start of their careers raised eyebrows.

Indeed, it was a cause for celebration, but now there is no escaping the brutal reality that both standards have fallen alarmingly.

Since head coach Arne Slot and the club’s recruitment team started a £450m summer refit that hasn’t produced any tangible value for money, Liverpool have been vulnerable in defense.

Ibrahima Konate’s form collapse, along with Milos Kerkez’s failure to settle at left-back, have not helped Van Dijk. The great Dutchman, however, also had a bad luck, as his panic-stricken handball at Anfield demonstrated.

In the 67th minute, Chemsdine Talbi gave Sunderland a much-deserved lead before van Dijk stood back and turned his back on a 25-yard shot that struck him and drew within the reach of goalkeeper Alisson.

Van Dijk has an unusual habit of turning his back on the ball, occasionally to Liverpool’s cost, for a defender of such undeniable greatness.

Yes, it was a bad luck situation in the end, but Van Dijk was given the opportunity with his uncharacteristic failure, Sunderland’s Talbi, to capitalize.

Van Dijk, the former England captain, said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Van Dijk gives the ball away before he just drops off.” It was the incorrect choice. He must play the ball. No one else knows what to do because they aren’t making the decision.

A player with Van Dijk’s pedigree, like Salah, should not be dismissed after claiming two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and two EFL Cups during a stellar Liverpool career.

The worst recoveries per game for his Liverpool career have been his, but he has also had the same appearance as his usual imperious self, and his tackles and interceptions are both down from last year.

And Van Dijk’s lack of leadership was apparent in this Liverpool team, which should not be his exclusive responsibility. A team that once more seemed lost and snatched the game by the neck had no one to cheer them up.

Van Dijk’s subpar performance, which resulted in him being used as the only option for an emergency striker, was a sign of a horribly subpar Liverpool performance, which made Sunday’s win at West Ham seem like the exception rather than the norm.

Salah was once more watching from the stands as Slot continued his partnership with the team that ended a nine-game losing streak at London Stadium.

At the start of the second half, the Egyptian appeared as a Kop sought inspiration from him. With a salary of £125 million, Alexander Isak became unofficial after scoring his first league goal for Liverpool on Sunday.

If Florian Wirtz’s 81st-minute shot had not deflected in off Nordi Mukiele to set up what Liverpool hoped would have been a grandstand finish, slot would have been under even greater pressure.

After the break, Slot and his fading stars had to accept the fact that Alisson had been fortunate to turn Trai Hume’s shot on the bar before Omar Alderete headed home after the break, which could have been worse.

Liverpool was sluggish, ponderous, and without ideas. Little conviction was found in even the customary late rally following the equalizer. Their title defense has crumbled because of these missteps.

Sunderland, who are being rewarded for a summer of serious ambition in the transfer market, coupled with Regis le Bris’ excellent management, deserves a lot of credit for the Reds’ struggles on Wednesday.

The Black Cats were optimistic, confident, and dangerous.

With 23 points, Sunderland are currently sixth in the Premier League. They will be disappointed to leave Anfield without adding two more to their tally because of how much they have grown as a team in the Premier League.