Martin O’Neill says he would have “absolutely” taken Celtic’s current position, with the Hoops heading into the split firmly in the title race.
It’s been a turbulent season.
O’Neill has twice been called upon to steady the ship, most recently taking over from Wilfried Nancy and guiding the team back into contention despite setbacks along the way.
And the numbers back it up.
Across his spells in charge, Celtic have lost just two league games – a record that has kept them within touching distance of the top.
Reflecting on the campaign, O’Neill said:
“Yeah, I suppose I would have done because there were a lot of games.
“When I left after the first time, we were winning the games. It was great. Suddenly, this extra time that you seem to be going to get, that causes its own sorts of problems, really.
“But our record in the league across the whole time, we’ve lost two league games.
“We lost at home to Hibs when Trusty got sent off, we were in the ascendancy at that time. Who knows? I don’t think we’d have lost a game.
“Dundee United was a disappointing second half, particularly. And we’ve drawn the two games away at Hearts and away at Rangers.
“So overall, if you’d said to me coming in way back at the end of October, would I settle for this position? Absolutely.” [Celtic TV]
There is a sense of what might have been.
Celtic dropped points during the earlier part of the season, and with greater consistency, could have found themselves in an even stronger position heading into the final five matches. Then, under Nancy, the Hoops dropped 12 points in his 33-day reign.
The run-in is demanding.
It starts with Falkirk at Celtic Park this weekend, followed by a trip to Motherwell.
Then comes the big one. Rangers at home, before a midweek visit to Firhill and a final-day showdown with Hearts.
There is one glaring issue.
Celtic have yet to beat either Hearts or Rangers in the league this season, despite multiple attempts.
Still, the belief is there. Five games left and three points separating them from the top.
Everything is to play for.
Keep Reading
