Martin O’Neill has made it clear he isn’t losing any sleep over criticism of Celtic’s style even if he accepts much of it is justified.
The Hoops haven’t exactly been easy on the eye in recent weeks.
Compared to the more expansive, if defensively fragile, approach under Wilfried Nancy, this Celtic side has been slower, more methodical and, at times, difficult to watch.
But they’re still winning and for O’Neill, that’s what matters.
Celtic may not be free-flowing, but they are grinding out results, staying in the title fight when performances suggest they shouldn’t be.
Speaking candidly, he admitted the criticism is “probably fair” but insisted it won’t change his focus.
“Away back, somebody used to give me the papers and I was really angry.
“Now, I couldn’t give a monkey’s, honestly. I really don’t.
“Celtic can be better. Celtic Football Club will be better. Hopefully, they’ll be a better side next season. Able to compete from the start and things like that.
“I think that any criticism that’s delivered to us, I think, mostly is probably fair at the end of the day. So, I’m not really bothered. I feel that it’s gone. It doesn’t really matter.
O’Neill also responded, in his own way, to comments from Frank McAvennie, who claimed teams no longer fear Celtic.
O’Neill said:
“I didn’t even know about Frank. Frank is frank! Great character, really great character. [He] probably hasn’t seen the games he’s saying he’s seen – I bet you he hasn’t seen a live game for a long time! But it doesn’t matter.
“It’s to do with just me being just too old and I can’t change things, and I’m not that bothered. I am bothered about football, I’m just not bothered about the criticism, which I said to you, absolutely you could level at us easily.” [The Herald]
The performances aren’t perfect, and the style isn’t thrilling, but in a title run-in, aesthetics rarely matter. Points do.
And right now, Celtic are still picking them up.
There’s a break from league action this weekend, with Celtic playing a Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren. Title challengers Hearts and Rangers have the weekend off, and are both currently training in the heat.
There’s still a double on the line this season for the Hoops, even if the performances aren’t convincing.
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