They say a week is a long time in politics. It can also seem like an eternity in football. All has changed utterly since Rodgers resigned and O’Neill swept into managerial power last Monday. Whilst Rodgers’ champions were slowly but surely losing their way this season, O’Neill’s version of Celtic was rediscovering its identity.
That manifested itself at Hampden Park on Sunday as Celtic defeated city rivals Rangers 3-1 after extra-time in the Scottish League Cup semi-final showdown to book a berth against Steve Robinson’s St Mirren on Sunday, December 14.
The O’Neill Factor
Belgian midfielder Arne Engels insists that the ‘O’Neill Factor’ cannot be overlooked as the men in green and white put in a display built on energy and intent that was reminiscent of the Northern Irishman’s Celtic teams of the past.
It is a small wonder that Engels feels that O’Neill’s arrival at Parkhead has put a smile on everybody’s face again, players and supporters alike. According to Engels, the hunger and intensity have returned.
Engels, who was outstanding in the middle of the park against the Light Blues at the national stadium, said: “Yeah, I’m really happy with the performance, not only from myself but also from the team.
“I think we had great intensity and a great mindset, just going for everything, winning our duels, going forward, creating a lot of chances. That’s why we did well. Hopefully, we can just keep it going now, not only for two or three games. We need to do it for a longer period, because that’s what Celtic is about. Not doing it once, but every time.
“There’s a really positive feeling about how everything is going, how well we’re playing, and the intensity we’re bringing. So I’m really happy with that. I think everybody has been together with a really good feeling every time. The things going on outside our group are not things we can change.
“What we can change is our performances, that’s true. So we just look to ourselves and try to get everyone involved again by playing well and winning games like today. Of course, the manager came in with a really positive mindset and lifted the mood. Everyone is really happy, and with the performances now, we can’t ask for more.
“We’ve got that hunger again, that intensity, and that’s Celtic again. It might have been missing earlier in the season, but now we have it back. We’re in the League Cup final too, so we need to keep that hunger through the next few months, the whole season, really.
“That intensity and hunger are what Celtic is all about, and that’s what makes us great.”
The captain’s message
It was O’Neill who reminded the Celtic players last midweek that they were born winners before a ball had been kicked in earnest during his second managerial stint. That seemed to do the trick as Celtic convincingly saw off Falkirk 4-0 at Parkhead before putting their rivals firmly in their place in the Mount Florida bowl.
Engels revealed that influential captain Callum McGregor, who netted a Hampden howitzer from long range to put Celtic 2-1 up in extra-time, had also been driving the same point home. The 22-year-old said, “That was something the skipper kept telling us as well. He told us that we’re fantastic footballers, but we have to show it not just once, but every time.
“That was maybe missing at the start of the season. Now we’ve got that feeling and that hunger back. That hunger and intensity are a big part of our identity as a group.”
A turning point?
Engels is hopeful that the stunning win over Rangers can prove to be a pivotal one in Celtic’s campaign and be the launchpad and catalyst for better days ahead, starting on Thursday night in Denmark against Midtjylland in the Europa League. He said, “I think it can be a really big turning point. It is something we talked about before the game, that it could be, and hopefully it is.
“If you look at how we played, how we managed the game, and yes, they had some long balls and second balls, but we created a lot of chances and were really good throughout. We have shown up in the last few games; hopefully, we can do it again on Thursday night.
“Hopefully, this is the turning point for us. I just hope we kick on from here and keep that aggression and intensity that define us.”
Back-to-back wins against Falkirk and Rangers in the Scottish Premiership and League Cup, with seven goals scored and just one conceded. The message is loud and clear from Engels and the Celtic camp.
Celtic are once again a hungry, united and relentless team. Whisper it quietly, but the champions could well be on the way back. O’Neill has Celtic playing like… Celtic. That could be ominous for the rest.