Martin O’Neill’s return to Celtic this week sparked celebrations among Hoops supporters — but they weren’t the only ones pleased to see him back.
The Irishman was reappointed after Celtic parted ways with Wilfried Nancy, whose troubled spell in charge left the champions trailing in the title race. O’Neill’s third stint in the dugout began in emphatic fashion, with Celtic sweeping Dundee United aside and restoring belief within the squad.
While Celtic fans welcomed the familiar face, Motherwell midfielder Andy Halliday also admitted to feeling a sense of relief — though not for the reasons many might expect.
Speaking to BBC Sportsound, Halliday revealed that O’Neill’s appointment eased fears that Celtic could turn their attention elsewhere.
“Quite surprisingly, I actually celebrated Celtic bringing in Martin O’Neill,” Halliday said. “It meant our manager wasn’t going anywhere in the immediate future, which was a relief.”
Halliday went on to heap praise on Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou, describing him as the standout coach of his career so far. He highlighted not just Motherwell’s style of play, but the overall structure and cohesion within the team, crediting Askou for their strong performances this season.
Askou’s work has not gone unnoticed, particularly after Motherwell’s impressive victory over Celtic at Fir Park, where his side dominated possession and dictated the game. That display, along with Motherwell’s climb to fourth in the Premiership, has led some supporters to speculate about his future prospects.
However, if O’Neill continues to deliver results and performances like the Dundee United win, Celtic may have little reason to look elsewhere anytime soon.
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