Banishing anxiety & restoring confidence – O’Neill’s Celtic return

Three and a half. Martin O’Neill’s age is similar to how many times he stated at his unveiling press conference that he was just a temporary fix for Celtic.

He made the point once more after his first game as Parkhead manager in 7, 459 days, when he won a harrowing 4-0 victory over Falkirk. Just in case there was a shadow of a doubt.

But can’t football make you feel strange?

There were glimmers in a convincing win that O’Neill’s magic touch is already rubbing off on the image of him standing with his arms aloft on the touchline.

The Northern Irishman told BBC Sport Scotland, “I was concerned before the game, but that’s just a trait of mine.”

There was no reason to worry on a night when those dressed in green and white were only concerned about the game.

Nothing could compare to the nuclear load dropped by major shareholder Dermot Desmond fifteen minutes after Brendan Rodgers left on Monday, which was a bombshell.

A group of fans outside Celtic Park did little to stop the fallout from being disruptive and what has happened in recent games.

Desmond even attended this one, which was significant.

O’Neill took a strange position in this regard. Celtic have a squad that ought to be able to defeat pretty much everyone in the league, but they were depressed and eight points off the top of the standings.

Reo Hatate’s underperforming defense was replaced by veteran winger James Forrest, Auston Trusty was reinstated, and Kieran Tierney’s absence was filled in by Marcelo Saracchi.

By half-time, Celtic had survived a few defensive scares to go 2-0 ahead thanks to Johnny Kenny.

As Celtic tightened the game’s grip as Benjamin Nygren and Sebastian Tounekti gave an emphatic performance, Falkirk’s threat dissipated.

“We played some delightful stuff, and I’m really pleased to win the game in the way that we did.” O’Neill added that there might have been more goals that could have been scored.

“I’m hoping some of the players who have played today are old enough to recognize who I am, while some of the younger players I’m not entirely sure. When they observe this man entering the dressing room, they wonder, “What’s going on here?” ‘.

I thought our play was excellent, and I’m delighted and satisfied. It was wonderful to win, and my anxiety has somewhat subsided. You can enjoy the final 10 or 15 minutes of a few goals in front, which kind of brought me back.

The table’s top four points are now at six points thanks to Hearts’ draw in Paisley and Celtic’s victory.

Although it was flimsy, the defending champions now have exactly what they need after the week.

Rangers and a League Cup semi-final are in wait at Hampden on Sunday, which is a completely different challenge.

Celtic had intentions when they first entered the contest. That has been flashed, but not at the same intensity as it was before this season.

On Wednesday, 11 shots were fired at Scott Bain’s goal, and two of them hit the woodwork. Additionally, they completed 119 of their final third passes successfully.

A forward is taking advantage of the opportunity that is given to him in Kenny.

His two goals were innate, and a third should have been added in the second half, according to his instincts.

O’Neill told Celtic TV, “That’s been at Celtic for a while, and that’s got the ball forward quickly.”

It’s fine when we play it too quickly or occasionally. As long as the final product exists. We’ll see if we can win the game.

“As it turns out, I’m learning about players even at my old age. I’m learning that some of our players are “super good.”

The interim manager made a joke on Wednesday that Falkirk won’t attend Sunday if things don’t go according to plan.