Martin O’Neill relishing familiar title-race nerves as Celtic target double

It's going down to the wire in Scotland this week. 

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill on the touchline during last weekend's Old Firm derby. Pic: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.

Martin O’Neill is experiencing some old familiar feelings as Celtic come to the boil in their bid for a league and cup double in his third spell at the club.

The 74-year-old Northern Irishman was a huge success as Parkhead boss from 2000-2005, winning seven trophies – including three Premiership titles – and reaching the 2003 UEFA Cup final.

O’Neill is in his second stint as boss this season after taking over as interim from Brendan Rodgers and then Wilfried Nancy and, having guided the Hoops to the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline, he watched his side cut the gap on leaders Hearts to a point with a 3-1 win over Rangers on Sunday.

Ahead of the penultimate fixture on Wednesday night against Motherwell at Fir Park, O’Neill was asked to compare his feelings to his first spell in the Hoops hot seat.

The former Ireland boss said: “Pretty much the same, to tell you the truth. I can’t remember, but the anxiety wouldn’t be that much different.

“And it’s good that I feel this way, because I’ve always felt that.

“I felt this is a player, although the thing I always felt as a player is, you could do something about it. I’ve always felt the same as a manager and then you’re depending on players for your living after that.

“And so the same sort of nervousness, the same sort of excitement, all those type of things still exist with me even at my age.” 

Celtic’s title bid looked forlorn in March when a 2-0 defeat by Dundee United at Tannadice left them five points adrift of Hearts.

But the reigning champions dug deep and have won six games in a row in all competitions since and are putting pressure on Hearts, who face Falkirk on Wednesday before heading to Celtic Park on Saturday.

O’Neill said: “We’ve got some players who are in really good form, which is the most important thing. I think there’s a good connection with the team and the fans. I think that’s been an important issue.

“Celtic Park on Sunday was just was kind of reminiscent of my old days anyway and that’s been great. But we’ve gone away from home and we’ve won some big matches as well too, so just a combination of all of those things gives us a chance anyway.

“They’ve known for some weeks, particularly after the game at Dundee United, that there was no room for mistakes.

“And that’s hard to keep going every single game because there’ll be a match where you might actually dominate, you might not score in that period and another team might break away and find themselves 1-0 up.

“For instance, on Sunday, we started off strongly and the game was helter-skelter and Rangers score and it sets us back.

“But we come rolling back into the game, scoring a couple of goals after half-time, one of them being a fantastic goal which gives us that big boost of confidence that’s so important at this stage.”

Derek McInnes has already psyched himself for a last-day title shootout at Celtic Park, meanwhile – even though his Hearts side could be crowned William Hill Premiership champions on Wednesday night.

“I’ve just assumed Celtic are going to win the game, I’ve had it in my head that we’re going to the last game and I’m prepared for that,” McInnes said on Tuesday.

“Listen, there’s no easy games for anybody, nothing’s straightforward. Motherwell are a more than capable team, as we saw the other night (in a 1-1 draw at Fir Park). They were fully committed against us and I’m sure that’ll be the same again against Celtic.”