O’Neill fears Bhoys falling further behind big boys
Celtic need to match Shakhtar Donetsk’s result in the final round of Group F games tonight to secure the consolation prize of a place in the knock-out stages of the UEFA Cup.
But O’Neill has serious doubts over Stilian Petrov, Didier Agathe and Stephen Pearson for the visit of Serie A champions and group leaders AC Milan.
He would love to have the luxury opposite number Carlo Ancelotti has in being able to draft in the likes of Frenchman Vikash Dhorasoo and Argentinian Hernan Crespo.
O’Neill is hoping to get some money to spend on new players in the transfer window but admits it is impossible to stop the gap getting wider.
O’Neill said: “I would say that the very top clubs are getting stronger.
“For instance when we played Milan in Milan and the team was announced I looked at the players who moved out of their dressing room and were sitting out and watching the game. Dhorasoo and Crespo were sitting the game out which is not a bad choice to have. These big clubs have earned that right.
“I am a bit envious that they have supplemented their squads with absolute top-quality players.”
Celtic’s hopes of beating the Italian giants, which would seal their UEFA Cup place, have been rocked by injuries to Agathe, Pearson and in particularly Petrov.
The Bulgarian international skipper sustained an ankle injury in the weekend win over Hibernian and has failed to train since.
O’Neill is refusing to rule him out until the final possible moment but he is not too hopeful about the midfielder, Agathe and Pearson proving their fitness.
The poor weekend form of Magnus Hedman is also causing O’Neill some concern, although he was putting on a brave face yesterday.
The Swedish international felt that he had “soap in his gloves” and looked unconvincing against Hibs, perhaps giving teenager David Marshall hope of a recall.
O’Neill accepts his players face a “mammoth task” but he denies that the result is a foregone conclusion.
Celtic have been far from their best despite their draw in Barcelona but O’Neill said: “They have some wonderful footballers and they have shown that not just this particular season.
“We are playing a side that won the Italian championship last year and Champions League the previous year and are flying this year.
“They want to come here and want to win the group so it’s going to be a mammoth task tomorrow.
“But why shouldn’t we be up for the game and approach it in a positive manner. We have had some fantastic evenings in the past .
“That doesn’t guarantee anything but in recent times our second-half performances against Barcelona here and whole performance against them in Nou Camp in getting a draw were good. Our second-half performance against AC in Milan, not so long ago, was also good and we have been able to deal with world-class players here in recent times.”
O’Neill admits that it will be a nervous night with eyes on Parkhead and ears on the Ukraine where Barcelona face Shakhtar Donetsk, who are a point behind Celtic.
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