Martin O’Neill has hailed Celtic’s character and determination after the Scottish champions reignited their UEFA Europa League campaign with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Besiktas at Paradise.
The Hoops produced a thrilling second-half performance in a five-goal contest to claim their first three points of this season’s competition. It was a result that could prove crucial to their hopes of progressing, especially after the pressure of starting their European campaign without a win.
Substitute Callum Osmand made an immediate impact, drawing Celtic level with his first touch after coming off the bench. The youngster then turned provider, setting up Camilo Durán for the first of his two goals on the night as the hosts seized control of a fiercely contested encounter.
For O’Neill, the victory was about more than the three points. Celtic needed a response, and his players delivered with the energy, desire and attacking determination required to turn the contest in their favour.
Speaking to CelticPlayer after the final whistle, the manager described the performance as a significant achievement, while acknowledging the importance of getting his side back into contention in the Europa League.
“It’s just a magnificent effort,” the Celtic manager said. “We’ve put ourselves back in the competition.
“There’s a long, long way to go, of course, but tonight we had to take all three points and we did it.
‘We did it in some really fine style. It was a magnificent effort by the team.’
“The heart and desire from the team was there in abundance. The crowd were right with the team as well too. It was just a lovely night.”
The result gives Celtic a much-needed platform to build on, with the impact of Osmand and Durán offering further encouragement ahead of a demanding run of fixtures. The comeback also demonstrated the importance of squad depth, as O’Neill’s decision to introduce fresh attacking options helped change the direction of the game.
Attention will now turn to domestic matters, with Celtic preparing for Sunday’s Scottish Premiership clash against Kilmarnock. O’Neill believes the European victory can provide a timely confidence boost, although he wants his players to remain focused on the immediate challenge.
The manager also acknowledged that Celtic still have significant work to do in the Europa League. Winning at home has restored their hopes, but securing points on the road will be essential if they are to make further progress.
He added: “We’ve got a big game on Sunday, and this gives us piles of confidence as well too.
“We can, for a week or two, park the European scene. We’ve given ourselves a chance and that was the most important thing.
“We’re not actually out of it at the moment. We’ll have to go and win matches away, which will not be easy. But at least for now, for a couple of weeks, we’ve given ourselves a chance.”
Celtic can now approach their next fixtures with renewed belief after delivering when the pressure was highest. O’Neill will hope the victory over Besiktas becomes a turning point in their European campaign, rather than a memorable result that stands alone.
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