Martin O’Neill yesterday spoke to Gerry McCulloch from Celtic’s in-house media team, reflecting on the very satisfying 7-1 win over Hearts on Sunday while looking back to what might have been in Lisbon on Thursday night had Celtic scored a second goal rather than hitting the woodwork…
Benjamin Nygren of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on October 18, 2026 . (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The Celtic manager also looked further back to that hard fought UEFA Cup tie against Celta Vigo in 2002 where John Hartson’s goal in the second leg in Spain kept Celtic on course for the final in Seville the following May.
Martin O’Neill then looked forward to tomorrow night’s match against the same opponents in the Europa League as both sides look for their first points of their campaigns.
Martin O’Neill, Manager of Celtic, gestures before the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on October 18, 2026 . (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Celtic in good shape after hammering Hearts
He started by talking about the satisfaction he got from his team taking their chances at the weekend and by giving an update on how his Celtic squad are feeling after hammering Hearts.
“They are in good shape, they are in good form and obviously a big lift in terms of confidence, in terms of scoring goals. Everything about it was really terrific considering that we scored seven goals against big rivals,”Martin O’Neill said. “It augurs well.”
Martin continued: “I didn’t think we could score seven goals but I did think that if we could take some of the chances, particularly like the ones we created at Motherwell and second half against Benfica, I thought that we could win the game.
What might have been in Lisbon
“But everything clicked on Sunday, it was great to score the number of goals that we did do. I think that we can create. First half against Benfica, conceding a goal so early on with a penalty kick against us, then two more then half-time couldn’t come quickly enough,” he said to CelticPlayer.
October 15, 2026, Lisbon, Portugal: Colby Donovan L of Celtic FC and Gianluca Prestianni R of SL Benfica seen in action during the UEFA Europa League Matchday 2 between SL Benfica and Celtic FC at Estadio da Luz Stadium. Final score SL Benfica 4 :1 Celtic FC Lisbon Portugal – Photo Hugo Amaral IMAGO
“But we got back into it, played really strongly and I accept that fact that on the break they could also score some goals themselves, but if that one that hit the post gone in to make it 3-2, all to play for then in the last 15 minutes.
Benfica were wobbling at 3-1
“It’s interesting that Shaun Maloney was speaking to their manager, the two of them knew each other from their Hull City days, and he was saying that Benfica were wobbling at 3-1. So that might tell you something, at home against us.
“So listening to that there also gives you a good feeling of confidence. You think that if you can strike, if we can strike early against Hearts to settle everything down, then things could go on from there. As it turns out it was really terrific.”
7-1 result against Hearts, inevitably changes the outlook
Martin O’Neill also explained how the 7-1 result against Hearts, inevitably changes the outlook ahead of the mouthwatering match against Celta Vigo, a famous old rival or ours from the road to Seville campaign.
“If we been beaten by Hearts then this(Celta Viga tomorrow night) would be a game you could do without really. For us to get back on track again was the most important thing. We desperately want to try and qualify for the knock-out stages of the competition which we did last year,” O’Neill admitted.
Martin O’Neill, Manager of Celtic, looks on before the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on October 18, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Both teams off to poor starts in terms of results
The Celtic manager added: “We are off to a poor start in terms of results but we’ll try and put that right on Thursday night against a side who can consider themselves really unlucky in a couple of their games where they have conceded late goals, particularly against Juventus. So they’ll be looking for three points themselves. Hopefully it should make for an open game.”
Martin O’Neill then reflected on during his first spell at Celtic facing Celta Vigo in a tight match over the two legs.
“It was a big victory for us in terms of the two games, overall to get through. John Hartson was the one that got the goal and it set us up nicely for the second half of the season,” he recalled.
“I think that when we get a result like we did on Sunday, you feel as if things are going to plan. It’s not really that. There are times when you want the side to be on the front foot for a lot of times, then suddenly a team plays through you a couple of times, so you feel that might not be right.
Mika Baur of Celtic applauds the fans after his team’s victory in the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Heartsat Celtic Park on October 18, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
I thought that we looked a decent side
“On Sunday the early goals settled us down and I thought that we looked a decent side. And also when Hearts came at us, and they had plenty of possession themselves in the game – it’s really strange you sure seven in the match and the other team has more possession – so when they did play through us there was that urgency about Celtic to get it back and retrieve the situation.
“Those are the things that make you feel good,” Martin O’Neill noted.