'The players response has been terrific,' Martin O’Neill

Q: Not quite your last game, but what did you make of it?

Martin O’Neill: “I thought the game went maybe the way I thought it might go. I thought that we would lose energy in the second half, and we played some great stuff in the first half. And the second goal was just the way that I think we played against Feyenoord, as well. Some lovely moves, maybe the third goal just before half-time would have been great, the one that we hit the post with.”

“But second half, Hibs came roaring back, got the penalty, we were on the back foot. But we dug it out, and that was the most important thing. And just to win here was great, particularly after the exertions of Thursday night. And to see it through, we were definitely, the last ten minutes we were probably out on our feet really. But, you know, great. So, couldn’t obviously be more pleased with the team. They’ve shown some resilience as well as been able to play some decent football. Well, more than decent.”

Q: How do you handle this situation where suddenly you find out you’re in charge for another game?

Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, that was a wee bit strange I must admit, you know. So, I had a joke up there about saying, whatever is happening to the paperwork, I have no idea, maybe I’m hiding it! You must be bored asking me about the questions. So, it was a strange thing because I only found out yesterday. I genuinely thought this was my last game.”

Q: Your legacy is intact from what had gone before?

Martin O’Neill:  “I’ve said this to you before, the legacy does not worry me a jot. What worried me was coming and failing here, really failing, like everything, you know. And that could have happened. So, players, backroom staff have been terrific for me. And I know I’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating. If you’re talking about legacies, Jock Stein, the rest of us will just follow along.”

Q: But does it please you, though, because there’s a fear of failure? It must please you personally.

Martin O’Neill: “Of course, and I’m delighted. I’m delighted to have got the opportunity. Did I think about it at the time? Yeah, I did. You’re concerned about coming back. You haven’t been properly in the game for some time. You haven’t thought like a manager. You haven’t done any of those particular things for some years.

“And, of course, the general view is today that it’s a young man’s game and that managers who might have some experience would maybe consider themselves old-fashioned in many aspects. I was blessed coming in here with young men that I managed, believe it or not. They’ve all become excellent coaches. They’ve been great to me, and they’ve been great for me. So, I can’t ask for any more. The players response has been terrific. Really, really terrific. Particularly if you think about the Feyenoord game. But this, to me, this game is more important.”

Q: The longer you do the job, though, Martin, is there not part of you that thinks about wanting to stay on even if it’s not a possibility?

Martin O’Neill: “I think, in fairness to the new manager coming in, I think the board have made a decision on that there. And I think it’s only fair to him to come in, now get in, and get his feet under the table, look at the side. Because he’s got some really great games to look forward to coming up. And nothing will be easy, of course. Nothing is, but it’ll be an exciting team. He’ll take over a side that’s actually, I think, brimming might be too strong a word, but they certainly have loads of self-confidence about themselves now.”

Q: Is it just a red tape issue? Is that your understanding?

Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, yeah.

Q: In your head, is Wednesday definitely it then?

Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, in my mind, absolutely. In my mind, at 8 o’clock yesterday morning, it was also that this is my last game, you know.

Q: Has it given you a new lease of life, Martin, this kind of period?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, it certainly has. It certainly has. Working with young people has definitely invigorated me, or reinvigorated me, no question about it.  And just to be around footballers again, and seeing what the young player thinks about the game now, I think those things, I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned a lot in the last, what is it, six weeks, or whatever the case may be. Genuinely, I’ve learned a lot about players, about young players, what they think, how they approach games, and just a bit of guidance along the way, which I think that I’ve added.”

Q: You’re talking about the manager getting his feet under the table, but the new manager’s first three games could be Hearts, Roma, a cup final. Should he wait?

Martin O’Neill: “Are you joining the Celtic board, are you? Right. Those games are games to look forward to, I must admit. But I’m sure, I’ve not spoken to the man, but I’m quite sure he would want to get in here as soon as possible, to get going, and at least on the back of good results, and the team now starting to play with the sort of confidence that has pervaded this football club for some time.”

Q: Martin, just to clear up one thing, at no stage did Dermot Desmond ever say to you, would you think about the permanent job?

Martin O’Neill: “No, absolutely not. No, he didn’t.”

Q: Is there perhaps a tinge of disappointment that you’re not the one in charge for the final?

Martin O’Neill: “No, really. Do you know what, when I’m out of here, and the final takes place, yeah, I might think about that. Not at the minute, I don’t really. And this is my job. My job is just to go in and get things reorganised, for want of a better word, and go out the minute that they say. So, yeah, that’s the way it is. But, in all of this, we’ve beaten (the)Rangers. That is massive.

Q: You were talking there about you’re just coming in to do your job. When you agreed to take it, Celtic were eight points behind Hearts, you’re now two points behind with a game in hand. How do you assess the job then?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, yes, we have. And I am genuinely delighted with it. Really, really. We got a lesson in Midtjylland, absolutely. But whether we were capable of playing European football to that level, I think they’re a very good side. As I said to you, I’d seen them a couple of weeks earlier when they hammered Nottingham Forest.

“And then we got a bit of pride back, for what it’s been, in the performance and the result in Feyenoord. And that definitely gave us a boost today. Because I knew that we would get really tired in the last 20-odd minutes of the game, and then with Hibs scoring so soon after half-time, we were definitely on the back foot. But we saw it through, and maybe that’s what probably pleased me most about today.”

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