Martin O’Neill: Celtic interim boss says he is open to talks with…

Martin O’Neill: Celtic interim boss says he is open to talks with…

Interim supervisor Martin O’Neill still expects to be at Celtic on a short-term foundation however could be open to talks over an prolonged keep after main the holders to the Scottish League Cup final.

O’Neill and Shaun Maloney loved a 3-1 extra-time win over 10-man Rangers at Hampden Park, following up the midweek victory over Falkirk after being put in as Brendan Rodgers’ non permanent successors.

Extra-time objectives from Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand noticed Celtic arrange a final against St Mirren on December 14.

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Callum McGregor put Celtic ahead in further time

When requested if he might still be in cost then, O’Neill said: “I have had no indication, genuinely no indication whatsoever at this minute. None at all.

“And I might have thought that with Midtjylland now Thursday evening [Europa League] and then Kilmarnock on the Sunday, I might have thought there’s most likely time for them, with a global break, for the board to assume about one thing.”

When requested if he would love to lead Celtic again at Hampden next month, the 73-year-old said: “Well, secretly, you’d love to.

“Look, we’re in the outcomes enterprise and all of these issues can change. I used to be truly at Midtjylland’s game against Nottingham Forest, the place they had been just too strong for them, actually, and that was at the City Ground. And then we have the Kilmarnock game on the Sunday.

“So, honestly, these games, it’s all about results and that will determine whether the board might think about taking their time. If we’d got beaten today, I might not even have seen Thursday.”

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Martin O’Neill gained his first Old Firm game answerable for Celtic in over 20 years

When requested if he could be open to discussions with principal shareholder Dermot Desmond, who supplied him the interim function on Monday, O’Neill said: “The very obvious answer would be yes, I would do. But I genuinely don’t know what to expect.

“When I noticed the games that they had and then the worldwide break, I assumed they will have a few weeks to assume about it.

“I have not even spoken to him since that. In a perverse kind of manner I’ve loved the two games – however not loads.

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Callum Osmand scored Celtic’s third in the win over Rangers

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted to have won the game, absolutely delighted. It was a really strange feeling to be in the Hampden dressing room, really strange, but it was nice to win.

“If it had been the other manner round it could have been a real sickener.”

When asked if he would be open to staying on a permanent basis, the former Republic of Ireland boss said: “Well, I do not assume there will be that dialog. I genuinely do not assume that could be the case.

“I’ve come in, deep down, I probably have enjoyed it a bit better than I’m saying to you, but not a lot. So, it was really strange.

“I’ve had huge assist from my backroom employees, (Shaun) Maloney and Mark Fotheringham and Stephen (McManus). All three that I managed at one stage or another. Gosh almighty, now they’re standing beside me in the teaching ranks.

“So, yeah, it was lovely. It’s a great feeling in the dressing room when you’ve won a game like that.”

Ralston praises ‘nice’ O’Neill

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Celtic defender Anthony Ralston provides his response after Thelo Aaasgaard’s red-card deal with on him

Celtic defender Anthony Ralston has praised O’Neill’s impression and has been impressed by the Northern Irishman in his quick time again in the sizzling seat.

The Scotland defender said: “He’s been around this fixture many times, and it was great to have his knowledge, along with the other coaching staff as well, who’ve also been around the fixture.

“And it helps as properly that there was a very good few boys within the dressing room and on the pitch that have also had a number of experiencing this fixture as properly.

“So we were very calm, we were focussed, we knew the job that we had to do and I felt that to a man, we delivered today, which was great.

“He (O’Neill) is nice, he’s humorous.

“He’s let us know he’s been around the game for a long time in a humorous away and he’s been great to just give us that experience in that confidence to go out and play our football and to have belief.

“And I feel you possibly can see that with the performances.”

Meanwhile, Ralston believed Thelo Aaasgaard took a gamble and lost with the tackle that brought the Rangers midfielder a red card in Celtic’s win over their Old Firm rivals.

He said: “You run the danger once you go in high and you are going in with a power.

“So the boy ran the risk and it didn’t work out for him.

“It’s one that modified the game and I felt we capitalised on it properly.”

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