Departing O’Neill delights in Celtic response

Martin O’Neill has heaped praised on the Celtic players he will lead for the last time on Wednesday as the interim manager prepares to bid farewell.

The 73-year-old will make way for Wilfried Nancy after the home game against Dundee and is hoping to make it seven wins from eight games in charge.

With a 100% record in the league, O’Neill has helped narrow the gap on Premiership leaders Hearts from eight points to two, while there was a League Cup semi-final success against Rangers and a win away to Feyenoord in the Europa League.

The only blemish came with defeat to Midtjylland in the same competition.

“I just think the nice thing about the players is that they have responded,” said O’Neill. “They’ve shown a willingness to try and implement some of the things that I think are important about the game.

“They’ve been great and I couldn’t praise them highly enough. There’s one more game for me. They’ve got big, big matches ahead.

“When I was watching Celtic from afar, you can form an opinion about players and then find out that when you’re actually working with them, that’s different, either good or bad.

“For instance, I thought from afar that the captain [Callum McGregor] was a really good player. I didn’t realise how good he is.

“Some players who have played almost every single minute of games have been absolutely outstanding.

“And then you’re getting to know some players. And I said to some of the lads, I mean [Michel-Ange] Balikwisha hasn’t played under me. The next manager will step in, play him and find out he could be the best – and I’ve made that point to him.

“And that’s for all of them. The incoming manager will have maybe a different opinion on some players than I would have. That does not mean I’m right.”