Martin O’Neill marked his return to the Celtic dugout in emphatic fashion, brushing aside a pointed BBC remark as he unveiled his first starting XI of his third spell in charge against Dundee United.
The Parkhead crowd warmly welcomed the Hoops legend back, eager to see how O’Neill would set up for his opening Premiership match. The Irishman made four changes from the Old Firm defeat, handing Julian Araujo his first start since arriving on loan from Bournemouth and restoring a familiar defensive structure.
Speaking to BBC Sportsound, O’Neill explained that Araujo’s inclusion was partly about freshness after a relentless run of fixtures. “He’s a strong lad,” O’Neill said. “He gives us something extra. The other boys have played a lot of football, midweek after midweek, so this was a chance to freshen things up.”
However, the mood shifted when reporter Kheredine Idessane suggested O’Neill was simply putting players back into their “proper” positions — a clear swipe at Wilfried Nancy’s tactical approach. O’Neill was having none of it.
“I think that’s really unfair,” he responded bluntly. “Players do have preferred positions, of course they do. But sometimes adjustments are required and players have to adapt. That’s part of football.”
The Celtic boss stressed that versatility remains essential, insisting players should be capable of adjusting when asked to move slightly out of their comfort zones.
The exchange was vintage O’Neill — firm, measured, and unwilling to entertain cheap digs.
For Celtic supporters, it was a familiar and reassuring sight: their former manager back in charge, setting boundaries and bringing a sense of authority both on and off the pitch.
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