Q: Martin, were you surprised at some aspects of that tonight? You talked about the lesson that was offered. Were you surprised by some of it?
Martin O’Neill: “We conceded the two goals within a minute and then three in seven minutes. So by the time that we moved forward, we were 2-0 down and away from home, we were against a really decent side, I keep saying that, but they are. That was difficult. The third goal, you know, almost puts it beyond you, you know. So, was I surprised? I don’t know whether I was surprised, disappointed, just disappointed in the concession of the goals.”
Celtic stating xI – team photo Midtjylland vs Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Group Stage, Football, MCH Arena, Herning, Denmark – 06 Nov 2025Herning MCH Arena Denmark Photo Michael Zemanek
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Q: Is that a mentality thing as much as an ability thing, Martin? You know, it’s the first goal, you’ve got to hang in the game?
Martin O’Neill: “You’re spot on, you’re absolutely spot on, you’ve got to hang in, that’s really it, that’s it. Until you have to regroup, whatever you do, you don’t concede a second goal and yeah, it came as a bit of a shock, but I couldn’t agree more with you. It’s something that you have to do. I think just to play football at the top level, not only do you need ability, but you need mentality, and mentality sometimes overrides ability as well. I’ve seen players with lesser talent but more drive and more determination come through and players who have the talent but don’t have that mentality fall by the wayside.”
Q: You don’t know what’s going to happen long term or short term or whatever but is that something you’ll be driving into them, that very message that you’ve just given them?
Martin O’Neill: “Do you know what, it sounds from here as if I’m like a teacher to them but I will try and teach them the game as quickly as possible. Things that they may already know, maybe need reminding, maybe they don’t know, maybe it’s part of my job to do that. Well, it’s not part of it, it is my job to try and improve the football club. Yeah, it was tough tonight, really tough tonight, and I’ll take nothing away from that.”
6.11.2025 HERNING PILKA NOZNA LIGA EUROPY UEFA SEZON 2025/2026 FOOTBALL UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE FC MIDTJYLLAND – CELTIC GLASGOW N/Z ARNE ENGELS JAMES FORREST MIKEL GOGORZA FOT. KAROL POLIT/NEWSPIX.PL — newspix.pl
Q: Arne Engels, is he okay?
Martin O’Neill: “I think he was feeling his hamstring as well, so the games are coming thick and fast for us, playing European football, so we just have to dust ourselves down, and get ourselves prepared mentally I should say and physically for Sunday.”
Here’s Martin’s post-match interview with TNT Sports…
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