Don Goodman spots ‘hidden point’ in Martin O’Neill comments about Jens Berthel Askou and the Celtic FC job
Former Motherwell FC striker Don Goodman believes Martin O’Neill delivered a clever message with his praise of Jens Berthel Askou before Celtic’s win at Parkhead.
O’Neill guided Celtic FC to a 3-1 victory over Motherwell on Saturday at Celtic Park, but the veteran manager had already been making headlines beforehand with a Shakespeare-inspired compliment aimed at the Danish coach.
Askou has recently been mentioned as a possible future Celtic manager, and Goodman believes O’Neill’s remarks carried a deeper meaning than many initially realised.
O’Neill’s ‘clever’ response
Speaking about the situation, Goodman suggested O’Neill handled the topic in a smart and diplomatic way, praising Askou while subtly highlighting the realities of Scottish football.
According to Goodman, the comments were reminiscent of the famous philosophical-style quotes often associated with Eric Cantona — clever remarks that sound complimentary but may carry a deeper message.
The pundit said O’Neill’s words recognised the impressive job Askou is doing at Motherwell, while also hinting at the inevitable speculation that comes when managers succeed outside the traditional powerhouses.
Askou attracting attention
Askou has earned widespread praise for his work at Motherwell this season. Before their recent defeats, the Fir Park side had put together a nine-match unbeaten run that briefly raised hopes of a surprise title push.
While those ambitions have faded slightly after back-to-back losses, the club still looks well placed to challenge for European qualification.
However, Goodman believes success at a club like Motherwell often comes with consequences.
He pointed out that managers performing well outside the so-called “big two” — Celtic and Rangers FC — inevitably attract interest from bigger clubs. Goodman compared Askou’s situation to that of Derek McInnes, who has also been linked with major jobs after strong work in Scotland.
Celtic back in the title race
Meanwhile, Celtic’s win over Motherwell — combined with Heart of Midlothian FC losing 1-0 to Kilmarnock FC — has thrown the Scottish Premiership title race wide open again.
O’Neill’s side now sit just two points behind Hearts with eight matches remaining, while Rangers remain close behind after defeating St Mirren FC.
With the race tightening at the top and speculation continuing around Askou’s future, the story surrounding the Motherwell manager — and O’Neill’s intriguing comments — looks set to continue for some time. ⚽
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