O’Neill envies his players on UEFA final mission
He is proud to be taking the Glasgow club to their first European final since 1970 but he admits feeling a tinge of jealousy towards his players.
The former midfielder helped Nottingham Forest lift the European Cup in 1980 with victory over Hamburg in Madrid under Brian Clough. And O'Neill feels that winning a European trophy as a player is his biggest and best achievement which will not be overshadowed by anything his side does in Seville next week or later.
"It's a wonderful moment, it's great to be involved in it and I'm glad to be involved in it," enthused O'Neill. "But there's nothing like playing.
"Actually to be out on the field of play and be able to think that you are contributing to the game, there's nothing better than that.
"The night that we won the second European Cup in Real Madrid's stadium against Hamburg is a moment you will never forget.
"At the final whistle you are absolutely drained, but you've won it and it's was just fantastic.
"For us to be involved in the final for the club for the first time in years and years and years it's a great feeling, there's no doubt about.
"I can't really describe it properly. It's best to say it's a good moment for all us and I am delighted to be part of it," the Celtic boss added
O'Neill also wants John Hartson to be part of the final and insisted today he would give him until the last possible moment to be fit because he is such a 'major player'.
The Welsh striker has been out since the victory at Rangers on April 27 with a back injury, but he is improving by the game.
Unfortunately there are no first-team games remaining for the former Arsenal and West Ham man to prove himself before Seville, but O'Neill is still looking to arrange a practice match for him and Robert Douglas before they get on the plane to Spain this Sunday.
"We are still trying to organise something and we have a few options outside the club," O'Neill added. "But John is remarkably upbeat, which is good news and he's done some work on some machines and is feeling a lot better. I am exploring the possibility of a game maybe at the weekend for him and a couple of others. Magnus Hedman and Robert Douglas would fancy it.
"But if that's not possible or if he is not fit he will still get a couple more days.
"In an ideal world it would be great for him to have played some football, but that is something we will look at.
"But he is feeling a lot better today and I'd give it to the last possible moment. I've done that with major players and John Hartson has become a major player.
"Not only in Europe but in league, and if I thought he could add something to our particular quest then I would be happy to do so."
O'Neill also responded yesterday to the recent boasts of Porto manager Jose Mourinho and warned him that his derogatory remarks can only come back to haunt him.
The over-confident coach is already making plans for the Super Cup and said: "We will take them on in every department and our superiority will shine through."
But his counterpart pointed out that every side apart from Liverpool en route to Seville wrote them off only to have their comments rammed down their throats.
O'Neill shrugged: "We've had that every single time we've played a fixture either before the game has taken place or usually afterwards because we have not been able to beat them here.
"People have said the side has not been good enough, we didn't play well and they are ready to beat us.
"Every single team from Blackburn onwards have said the same thing with the exception of Liverpool but all the other sides have said they will go on to take us.
"But we are in the final and they're out and none more recent than Boavista who said they would come and take us apart.
"Porto are a top-class side and we will treat them with all the respect that they deserve we're there and we're going to try and win."
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