‘Extraordinary’ Rohl comments about Celtic rile O’Neill

Martin O’Neill is not anticipating as many surprises on his 74th birthday as he received when hearing what Sunday’s opposition team boss, Danny Rohl, had said before what both hope will be an Old Firm derby celebration day.

Earlier, Rangers’ German head coach had responded to Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan’s suggestion that “if we’re at it, no team in that league touches us” by pointing out that his Ibrox side are currently two points above the third-top reigning champions.

Expressing surprise at the comments about a tie Celtic lost 4-2 on aggregate, O’Neill said: “So he is picking our team? Well done old Danny. He’s only in less than a year.

“I have to laugh. He’s made a comment about the picking of our team? Absolutely extraordinary. He hasn’t been in Glasgow long.

“There’s no need for him commenting on my team.”

However, what appeared to get O’Neill most irritated was the Rangers boss’ suggestion that: “I was a little bit surprised after 1-0 that they’re not trying to win this game, 2-0, 3-0, to have a chance. They keep the result until the end.”

The Northern Irishman replied: “He wants to be involved in some of these games.

“I didn’t see it like that. We were driven back because they are a very good team and in the top four of the Bundesliga.”

All that after Rohl had insisted: “I think, in general, it makes no sense to speak too much about the other side, we have to focus on ourselves.”

Hence the battle lines have been drawn for a Glasgow derby that could be of crucial importance to the destination of the Scottish title.

Heart of Midlothian are currently four points clear of Rangers at the top of the Premiership and Celtic two points further back with a game in hand.

O’Neill does not think the comments will add any fuel to what is usually a firey fixture.

He should know. Although it will be his first league Old Firm derby since a 2-1 win at Ibrox in April 2005, he has won eight of his last 10 against Rangers, losing just two, and also led them to a 3-1 League Cup semi-final win over Rohl’s side in November.

That was in his first spell as interim manager, but Rangers reversed the scoreline at Celtic Park in January, a result that went some way to ushering in his second after the sacking of Wilfried Nancy.

Celtic’s first-ever win in Germany came after a 2-1 loss at home to Hibernian dented their domestic title hopes.

“We are running out of games,” O’Neill admitted. “We have been trying to catch up for quite some considerable time and we’re still trying to do that.

“Losing to Hibs was a setback, but it wasn’t mortal and we’re still there.”

Now he is relishing a “really great fixture” he “never expected” to be involved in again.

“He [Rohl] possesses a fine team over there and it is going to be tough for us to get a result,” O’Neill admitted.

With Hearts hosting Aberdeen on Saturday, Derek McInnes’ long-time leaders could have stretched their advantage over the Glasgow pair before they do battle in Govan, but Rohl insisted “we have to focus on ourselves”.

“We are ready,” he said. “Do it with a hot heart and a smart mind. If we do this then we have a big chance.

“We have a clear idea of what we want to do. We have also some different solutions, how we can hurt them.”

Like Celtic, Rangers suffered a setback last weekend when they drew 2-2 away to bottom side Livingston, coming from two goals down after having twice been behind the previous week when defeating Hearts 4-2.

“My team showed character, big personality in the last couple of weeks,” Rohl suggested.

“Also to come back away in Celtic, in the stadium there after 1-0 down, showed that, even if the game goes in one direction, what we don’t want, we always have a chance to come back.”

Rohl feels he and his side “are on fire” after “a good training week” and feels “the confidence” and “the belief”.

“It’s a crucial game, but no team will be out after this game because there are still 27 points you can take,” he insisted. “It’s two matchdays and you are in the title race again.

“It’s a crucial one because, when you come closer and closer to the end of the season and there is more and more in, then you know every game is important.”

O’Neill, meanwhile, is not putting any significance on the game landing on his birthday.

“I have not celebrated a birthday since I was 49, so it makes no difference to me,” he insisted.