Martin O’Neill reaches a remarkable personal milestone on Thursday night, but there will be little time for reflection as he prepares Celtic for what he believes will be their toughest test of the season so far.
The Europa League play-off against Stuttgart will be O’Neill’s 1000th match as a manager, an achievement that places him among an elite group in the game.
Yet the scale of the challenge facing his side means sentiment will take a back seat once the action gets under way.
O’Neill has steadied Celtic since returning for a second interim spell, losing just once in 18 matches across the full campaign. That sole defeat came away to Midtjylland in this very competition.
Celtic finished 21st in the league phase of the revamped Europa League, recording three wins and two draws from their eight matches to squeeze into the play-offs. Stuttgart, by contrast, were among the stronger sides in the competition, winning five games and finishing 11th overall to underline their credentials.
The Bundesliga side arrive in Glasgow in formidable domestic form, sitting fourth in the German top flight and firmly in the Champions League places.
O’Neill has made it clear he knows exactly what awaits his players.
“Stuttgart are flying at this moment,” he said to Celtic TV. “They’re fourth in the Bundesliga. They’re in a Champions League position. I’ve had a look at them. They’re obviously very strong physically. They’ve got a lot of good players playing for them, so they’ll be difficult games for us. But while we’re there, let’s go for it.”
There is also history between the two clubs. Celtic and Stuttgart last met during O’Neill’s first spell in Glasgow, when Celtic edged a dramatic 5-4 aggregate victory on their way to the 2003 UEFA Cup final.
This time, the task looks just as daunting. Stuttgart are younger, quicker and in outstanding form, while Celtic continue to rebuild momentum amid domestic pressure. Still, O’Neill’s record in Europe and his ability to coax belief from his players cannot be discounted.
Keep Reading
