‘I’d settle for a really lousy 1-0 victory’ in Old Firm – O’Neill

Celtic vs. Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-final

Location: Hampden Park, Glasgow Date: Sunday, November 2nd Kick-off: 14:00 GMT

Martin O’Neill’s debut victory for Old Firm was dubbed the “Demolition Derby,” but Celtic’s “nervous” interim manager would “settle for a really lousy 1-0 victory” over Rangers the following year.

In what will be his surprise return, the 73-year-old was reminded of his legendary 6-2 victory from 25 years ago.

Since winning 19 out of 25 titles and 23 cup competitions in the 1990s, Celtic have since won 19 of those victories and have already won three major trophies. Dick Advocaat’s side’s thrashing sent them to a domestic treble.

It might be very challenging to replicate that, O’Neill said, with six goals scored against that side. If we could get it, I’d settle for a terrible 1-0 victory.

It was fantastic, of course, and it was very fond memories. And it did act as a real springboard for the time of year.

“Because Rangers dissented us at Ibrox in November, but I believe we had enough self-assurance that we could withstand that,” Rangers said.

O’Neill was chosen after Brendan Rodgers left on Monday, leaving his team behind Heart of Midlothian in the league table after missing out on Champions League football and protests against the Celtic board due to a subpar summer transfer window.

O’Neill said, “This is a big game for us.” Really, hide that completely. It’s a big match for us because it’s semi-final.

“Any Celtic-Rangers game is a big game, but absolutely, especially in the wake of the recent events, if not weeks.”

O’Neill won 16 of his 27 Old Firm games in his first season, drawing three and losing eight.

However, he only managed one victory in his four previous encounters with Rangers at Hampden and one League Cup victory at Celtic Park overall.

O’Neill responded to a question about his memories of the derby, saying, “Just a nervousness for about 72 hours before the result, a great relief.”

When questioned about whether he felt differently this time around, he responded, “Absolutely not. No, no, worse”.

O’Neill noted that his first derby was played after “five or six” as head coach, while Sunday’s derby came after only one this time, on Wednesday’s 4-0 league victory over Falkirk.

He said, “I learned a lot from the Falkirk game, which was great for us, and it gave us a lot of confidence.” “We’ll enter this game with that confidence, and that’s what counts,” the coach said.

It would be difficult to know what the players can do, even if I were here for a month or something.

In his final game as Rangers head coach, Danny Rohl, half O’Neill’s age, will play in the opposite dugout.

O’Neill continued, “I’ve heard a lot of good things, and I believe I said this even before I started this job.”

“I believe many of the Sheffield Wednesday players had very positive things to say about him.”