Celtic’s 3–1 victory over Feyenoord in Rotterdam has already been hailed as one of the club’s most assured European away performances in recent memory, and Martin O’Neill’s post-match reaction only reinforced just how complete a display it was.
O’Neill has spoken repeatedly about confidence, belief and clarity since returning to the dugout, and this performance appeared to be the clearest example yet of his influence on the squad.
The win keeps Celtic firmly in the hunt for qualification and injects much-needed momentum into a campaign that looked in danger of slipping away only a few weeks ago
Falling behind early in such an intimidating stadium could easily have triggered familiar issues, but instead Celtic responded with composure and aggression, dominating large stretches of the match and showing the kind of assured possession play that has too often deserted them on European nights.
The goals from Yang, Hatate and Nygren were the highlights, but the overall structure, discipline and bravery of the team stood out just as strongly.
O’Neill has always placed emphasis not just on winning, but on how a team wins, and Wednesday night ticked all of his boxes.
With energy in wide areas, composure in midfield and commitment at the back, Celtic managed the game intelligently after turning it around.
His praise for the squad reflected a performance that balanced attacking intent with controlled defending, something Celtic have struggled to achieve consistently across multiple European campaigns.
He said: (Celtic FC YouTube), “I thought they were fantastic.
“I thought the team were really, really fantastic.
“I thought that essentially, with their first real attack, they scored a goal.
“We might have been in front ourselves, but after that we controlled the game.
“They were magnificent. We basically passed them off the pitch.”
O’Neill’s comments reflect exactly what supporters saw unfold at De Kuip. Celtic not only recovered from a poor start, but they dictated passages of play that would have seemed unthinkable earlier in the season.
The midfield trio set the rhythm, the pressing was coordinated and aggressive, and the wide players offered continual threat. Even defensively, where Celtic have often struggled, the side showed resilience and organisation, particularly during Feyenoord’s brief periods of sustained pressure.
The magnitude of the result becomes clearer when set against Celtic’s long-standing difficulties away from home in Europe.
This was more than a smash-and-grab effort; it was a controlled, assertive performance on foreign soil against a side with real pedigree. For O’Neill to guide the team to such a display with limited preparation time and an injury-hit squad makes the achievement even more significant.
There is also the question of what comes next. With qualification still possible, Celtic now head into the final matchday with genuine belief.
O’Neill’s influence will remain a point of discussion as Wilfried Nancy prepares to take over, but the interim boss has unquestionably changed the tone around the team. The standards set in Rotterdam will be hard to ignore for whoever steps into the role permanently.
Celtic’s Europa League hopes are alive, their confidence restored, and their manager, once again, has reminded everyone why he remains such a significant figure in the club’s modern European story.
