“Arguing with fourth officials, it’s just right up my street,” Martin O’Neill

Martin O’Neill and his Celtic squad were back to Lennoxtown today despite travelling back to Glasgow from Bologna after last night’s 2-2 draw at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara which takes Celtic’s qualification hope onto the last round of group stage fixtures in the Europa League next Thursday night when Celtic welcome Utrecht to Paradise.

Before that there is the not inconsiderable matter of a title redeeming opportunity against a Hearts side whose manager Derek McInnes that got the better of both Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy in the two earlier fixtures in this season’s Scottish Premiership. A Martin O’Neill side you would expect, even with tired legs after last night, will be an entirely different kettle of fish for Hearts to contend with.

After training today Martin O’Neill spoke to the broadcast media with no fan media present yet again as Celtic ‘review’,  their insincere euphemism for a ban, continues. All we did was ask questions, the entire purpose of any media going a media conference. 

Here’s everything that was said as Martin O’Neill gave his assessment of the trip to Tynecastle on Sunday afternoon…

Q: Martin, how was the feel-good factor after digging out a nice result last night when you came into work the next day?

Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, it’s always a great feeling. The performance was terrific, the result was really fine. I think my own view, I can’t say for certain, but I think if we had stayed with 11 men the way we were playing at the time, I think we might have taken all three points. It wasn’t to be. Backs to the wall, certainly in the second half, and it was just a terrific effort. We’re still in the competition, we’ve a game on Thursday, and we’ll try and win that if we can. But that’ll come Thursday, the big match is on Sunday.”

Q: I suppose if there is a downside it would be the physical output that went into the second half in particular. How is everyone, particularly with that big game around the corner?

Martin O’Neill: “We’re fine. Johnny Kenny’s picked up a bit of a calf strain, and we’ll see how it is now. I think he’s gone for some sort of scans this afternoon, but we’ll see. He might be a doubt, I’m not sure, but he just said he felt it during the course of the time he was on. Hopefully, other than that, we’re ready to go.”

Q: Quick transitional period for your new striker (Tomas Cvancara), did he train today? What’s that integration looking like with a view to the weekend?

Martin O’Neill: “He trained yesterday with the B lads, and he trained this morning, and he’s ready to go.”

Q: Extra, I guess, reliance on that, if Johnny is injured in a department that’s maybe already light?

Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, I wouldn’t want to put too much pressure on him. He’s not just going to be the panacea for all our ills and woes and stuff like that. Just let him get settled in, I think he’ll make an impact, I hope he does. But again, I just wouldn’t want to put extreme pressure on him to solve all our problems.

🗣️ “It’s big pressure, but I feel ready. We have some goals which we want to achieve, so we will go for it!”

Hear from new Celtic signing Tomas Cvancara. Watch Hearts vs Celtic, 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗸𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀, from 2.30pm on Sunday 📺 pic.twitter.com/67sGNybVYE

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 23, 2026

Q: How has he (Tomas Cvancara) settled?

Martin O’Neill: “He looks OK, he’s done fine, he’s here, he has a partner and child at this minute, so they’re hoping to try and get settled in here in Glasgow as soon as possible. But he’s making a commitment, he wants to play well, he obviously wants to do well with us, and maybe as a consequence, he gets himself back into the Czech Republic team.”

Q: Could he start on Sunday?

Martin O’Neill: “He could start on Sunday, yeah.”

Q: When will you make that decision, is it after training tomorrow?

Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, we train tomorrow.”

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