Celtic cannot afford another defeat by Anderlecht
The Bhoys’ Group A campaign is still on a knife-edge despite their disastrous failure to overcome 10 men in Belgium on October 21.
The Glasgow giants find themselves still in the hunt, with Anderlecht and Lyon just a point ahead and Bayern Munich a further one in front. They also play two of their final three matches at fortress Parkhead, but the Celtic boss acknowledges that they need at least six points to avoid an early exit.
O’Neill said: “I would say that we probably have to win the game although I am sure that it wouldn’t be the death-knell to our Champions League aspirations if we draw. If we lost the game then it would certainly cast a major shadow on our chances of going through simply because we only have two games after that left.
“But in all intents and purposes we have to win the game. If we had got something from the game in Anderlecht that would have relieved some of the pressure that we’re under. It’s almost like a must-win for us even though the group is still so tight at the moment. If we could win this game it would give us a chance to make progress.
“It would be difficult if we got beaten and if we draw it probably depends on what happens elsewhere. But we still have to be looking at winning two of the last three games to give ourselves any sort of chance.”
O’Neill is looking for his side to avenge their defeat in Belgium, a performance the manager admitted was their worst of the season. Celtic have since built up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League but O’Neill accepts that his side will need to put in a good performance against the Belgians.
“Everybody can play badly and the players played badly that night,” said O’Neill. “That’s the poorest we’ve played all season. We’ll have to play as well as we did against Lyon to win.”
O’Neill has a pleasant selection poser as he welcomes back Didier Agathe. The influential winger was rested for the weekend’s emphatic win at Rugby Park but the Northern Irishman is expected to try and accommodate him in his starting line-up again.
O’Neill must decide whether to drop Irish starlet Liam Miller, despite him turning in another dazzling display in midfield in the 5-0 win at Kilmarnock on Saturday, or striker John Hartson.
Defender Joos Valgaeren has shrugged off the affects of a virus and the recent performances of Jackie McNamara and Michael Gray have also given the Celtic boss plenty to think about.
Alan Thompson (calf), Paul Lambert (ankle), Stephen Crainey (ankle) and Bobby Petta (hamstring) are recovering from injuries. But Johan Mjallby (knee), Steve Guppy (hernia), Jamie Smith (ankle) and Ulrik Laursen (medial ligament) are available for selection.
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