O’Neill warns of Rangers title backlash
The Hoops won the SPL title at a canter last season but O’Neill admits his players have to be fully committed if they are to repeat the success.
While Rangers have been busy in the transfer market, O’Neill’s only signing this summer has been Wolves’ Henri Camara on a loan deal.
He said: “Rangers have been revitalised, they’ve changed their team around considerably, they’ve got fresher people in and a new impetus.
“But we have to look after ourselves and determination and desire will be the important factors throughout the season.
“If we have it in abundance, we shouldn’t do too badly; if we don’t possess it, then we’ll obviously get done.”
O’Neill is hoping to boost his squad before the Champions League deadline but believes the big spenders will be successful in Europe this season, despite the recent success of unfancied teams, like Greece and Porto in Euro 2004 and the Champions League, respectively.
He said: “Money is talking more than ever before.
“It doesn’t guarantee success but it gives you a far better chance.
“That’s why I think we should be reasonably pleased that we contested a European final the season before last and got to the quarter-final last season.
“There’s been a bit of a change here but, for a Scottish team to go and win a major trophy, I think that’s asking a lot.
“Porto have won the European Cup before, so they wouldn’t consider themselves a small side and that’s suggesting that the Scottish league is akin to the Portuguese league.
“The Portuguese league is pretty strong.
“They’ve got a number of sides capable of holding their own in European football and they are also able to get hold of some very talented Brazilian players.
“And I think Greece was a real one-off. They were well prepared for the games and they looked fresher than most sides.
“The great players that you were hoping would shine in the competition looked absolutely dog-tired and Greece - to their eternal credit - took advantage of all that.”
Celtic midfielder Stephen Pearson was impressed by new signing Camara against Newcastle.
He said: “Henri looked sharp and bright and he managed to get a goal on his debut, so it was great for him and everyone at the club.
O’Neill has confirmed that he is giving French midfielder Charles-Edouard Coridon a trial at the club.
The Hoops boss told the club’s official:
“Edouard’s over on trial for a few days and, at the moment, that’s really all there is to say.
“We just want to have a look at him.”
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