Martin O Neill, manager of Celtic reacts after the match Bologna v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Group Stage, Renato Dall Ara Stadium, Bologna, Italy – 22 January 2026. Photo Michael Zemanek Shutterstock
FATHER MARTIN AND SAMWISE GANGEE – 8/10 – A marvellous vindication of Father Martin’s man-management and his management team’s inspiring influence on the squad. There won’t be many games in his vaunted career when his ten-man side of unrated, under-performing ‘lesser’ players have managed to hold a crack Italian outfit at bay for a besieged half an hour.
“It was a magnificent effort from the team”
Martin O’Neill praises his players for their performance away to Bologna…
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/XQ5UHMWb5V
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 22, 2026
That will probably please him as much as anything this evening – that we didn’t crack when the equaliser went in. Very much the delightful opposite – the players galvanised and fought it out tooth and claw, and got a feel-good result that’ll have their manager buzzing and them bathing in the glory he’ll reflect with calculated words into Sunday’s showdown.
