There have been wackier weeks in the history of Celtic, but not many of them. This one concluded with their 73-year-old interim manager being serenaded by an adoring support having guided the team past the 10 men of Rangers and into Scotland’s League Cup final. Will Martin O’Neill still be in charge when Celtic return to Hampden Park in mid-December? O’Neill claimed he did not even have any knowledge of when the final would take place. He was sticking to his theory that Celtic would have a permanent manager in place during the upcoming international window.
“I don’t think there will be that conversation,” said O’Neill when asked whether he was open to an extended spell in charge. “It is all about results and whether the board think about taking their time.” There is also surely an element of whether the hierarchy view O’Neill as a more credible candidate than he will admit. His standing in the eyes of supporters helps directors who have been subject to vehement protest in recent times.
It was impossible not to reflect on all that came before. On the previous Sunday, Celtic had been swatted aside by Hearts as Brendan Rodgers vowed to work harder than ever to oversee a change in fortunes. Rodgers left office a day later, his departure being confirmed immediately before an astonishing attack by the club’s main shareholder, Dermot Desmond. Enter O’Neill, who has removed the sense of turmoil with back-to-back wins.
This derby was his first in the Celtic dugout for 20 years. Celtic could find themselves in the bizarre position of having a different manager for this tournament’s quarter-final, semi-final and final.
“It is extraordinary,” O’Neill added. “I know I have a bit of a joke about it, I am not sure if I have ever enjoyed management, so that would be the same today. Your heart is pumping away, you are trying to get the result. But honestly, it is a privilege to come back, even if it is for a couple of games, and yes, it was a really strange feeling to be back at Hampden having been at many semi-finals and finals before, really strange.
“I’m delighted to have won the game, absolutely delighted. If it had been the other way around it would have been a real sickener.”
This was a gripping Old Firm clash. It was also one laced with controversy. Thelo Aasgaard deservedly saw red for a high challenge on Anthony Ralston, seven minutes before the break. Derek Cornelius had already been lucky to escape the same, the Rangers centre-half lunging into Johnny Kenny. Rangers believed Celtic should have been reduced to 10 in first-half stoppage time as Auston Trusty crazily kicked the head of the grounded Jack Butland.
Ralston was already on a yellow card when adjudged to have handled in the penalty area to trigger Rangers’ equaliser. That the full-back was not booked again drew more anger from those in blue. Danny Röhl was unwilling to talk about officialdom. The Rangers manager instead hailed the “outstanding” mindset of his players. “I see a team that had made huge steps forward,” the German added. The assessment was fair; for long spells of the second half, it was not particularly apparent that Rangers were a player short.
Proceedings had opened with a chaotic moment. Nasser Djiga whacked the ball off his teammate Nicolas Raskin before it looped back into the Rangers net. Embarrassment was spared for the duo by the fact Daizen Maeda had been offside earlier in the move. Youssef Chermiti should subsequently have sent Röhl’s team ahead but somehow missed the target from six yards. With his next opportunity, Chermiti failed to connect properly with a James Tavernier cross.
Kenny was more ruthless. The striker, who performed extremely well throughout, escaped the attentions of four defenders to head an Arne Engels corner home. After the actions of Aasgaard, this felt like a straightforward situation for Celtic.
Instead, Rangers rallied. Djeidi Gassama should already have restored parity before weaving through the Celtic defence, the substitute’s shot blocked by the elbow of the diving Ralston. Tavernier made no mistake from the spot.
Celtic were reinvigorated in extra time. Callum McGregor, the captain, lashed them in front from 25 yards. Butland will feel he should have done better with a shot not fired towards the corner of his goal. Callum Osmand only made his first-team debut for Celtic during Wednesday’s win over Falkirk. The former Fulham youngster timed his run perfectly to meet a Kieran Tierney cross, therefore sending O’Neill’s players into unassailable territory.
“I was 73 on Monday, I am 94 now,” joked O’Neill. Next up, a Europa League trip to Midtjylland. O’Neill will certainly still be in place for that. As for the broader picture; who knows? O’Neill seems to be revelling in the madness of it all.
