Martin O’Neill admitted Celtic did not feel like a united club when he first returned earlier this season, with the interim manager pointing to the tension around Parkhead during a difficult spell in the campaign.
The comments came ahead of Sunday’s derby against Rangers. Celtic go into the game still chasing Hearts at the top of the Premiership after dragging themselves back into the title race over the past few weeks.
That looked unlikely for a while.
Results through winter damaged confidence badly. Defeats against Dundee United, Rangers and Hearts created frustration in the stands, while injuries forced constant changes across the team. Celtic often looked nervous once matches became tight, especially at home where every misplaced pass started bringing groans from the crowd.
The mood around the stadium feels different now.
Martin O’Neill has steadied things since returning and the players have responded during the run-in. The team still has flaws. Viljami Sinisalo remains under pressure after replacing the injured Kasper Schmeichel, while questions over midfield balance have not disappeared. But Celtic have found ways to win matches again, even when performances have not fully clicked.
O’Neill spoke openly about the atmosphere around the club and how much it has changed.
He said: (TCW), “I probably played it down and maybe I wasn’t sure when I came in here first of all.
“And obviously it was a bit of ill-feeling at the time.
“And it didn’t seem a united football club.
“Yeah, and I’d said I wasn’t sure that if it affected Maeda or Hatate or people like that.
“But no, there’s no doubt at all about it. The crowd in full voice for the start, cheering the team on, even allowing for mistakes which we inevitably make. I think that’s been very, very positive. And I think it’s rubbed off on the players.”
Earlier in the season, the atmosphere turned edgy quickly whenever games slowed down or chances were missed. Players started taking safer options. Possession became slower and matches drifted.
The recent home games have carried a different feel. Celtic Park has been louder and more patient, especially during difficult moments in matches. That matters in a title race where pressure builds every week.
Sunday now becomes another test of that connection between the team and the crowd. Rangers arrive wounded after consecutive defeats, but derby matches rarely follow recent form. Celtic still need to handle the emotion of the occasion properly if they are going to keep the pressure on Hearts heading into the final fixtures.
