Celtic interim supervisor Martin O’Neill believes the membership will return to prominence and “compete correctly” once more in European soccer.
O’Neill led Celtic to a primary away victory in Europe since 2021 in Thursday’s 3-1 win over Feyenoord, leaving them properly positioned to succeed in the knockout levels of the Europa League, with video games towards Roma, Bologna and Utrecht remaining.
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The 73-year-old expects Sunday’s Premiership match at Hibernian to be his final in cost with a deal for Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy believed to be shut.
O’Neill loved constant success in Europe throughout his first spell as Celtic supervisor between 2000 and 2005, however the membership failed to succeed in the Champions League this season and have suffered setbacks towards the likes of Bodo/Glimt, Midtjylland, Malmo, Ferencvaros, Copenhagen, Cluj, AEK Athens and Maribor in recent times.
“What I believe will occur is that Celtic will come again,” O’Neill mentioned. “They’ll compete correctly in Europe. That is my robust perception and that ought to be the purpose for this soccer membership.
“Domestically we have been very, very robust. However you need to be robust in European soccer as a result of that is what was set in 1967. And that, I am afraid, is what it is all about.
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“So now we have to be that. Are we at this minute? No, we’re not. Midjytlland taught us a lesson.
“But it surely was good to revive a few of that. And that may be an indication. It doesn’t suggest that we’ll take all of the factors. However qualification can be good to get via into the knockout levels. That will be beautiful. And it might be a begin.
“However mark my phrases, Celtic might be again to correctly concerned in European soccer.”
O’Neill hopes to have full-backs Colby Donovan and Marcelo Saracchi accessible for his ultimate sport.
Donovan was limping closely earlier than his cross led to Benjamin Nygren’s clincher in Rotterdam and was changed by Anthony Ralston. Saracchi is ready to return from a hamstring drawback.
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“Colby bought a stud in his foot, which appeared fairly nasty,” O’Neill mentioned.
“I assumed he had taken cramp, however by the point he got here off it was bleeding and it did not look nice.
“However I believe he’ll simply push it off and say he needs to play, which is beautiful. Saracchi needs to be match on a regular basis so he is accessible for Sunday, which is nice.”