Even the most hopeful Celtic supporter would’ve been struggling for positivity at half-time on Sunday.
In a dismal first-half performance, Martin O’Neill’s side fell two goals behind, and it very easily could’ve been more, such was the listlessness of the players’ showing.
After the break, the momentum took a complete 180-degree turn. Kieran Tierney and Reo Hatate scored as Celtic brought it back to 2-2.
Speaking after the game, O’Neill opened up on what he told his players during the interval.
You are Martin O’Neill, what is the first change you would make for the cup game against Rangers?
Martin O’Neill on Celtic vs Rangers team talk
Asked specifically what he told his players at the break, he said: “No, I just, you have to try.
“Sometimes it’s not always possible to stay positive, particularly on a pretty poor performance.
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“So I think the general message was, despite us not being at the races in the first half, we’re actually still in the game. We can turn this around.
“The next goal becomes the most important thing. If Rangers get it, it’s miles away. But if we can get the goal, we’re still in the game. And I think that was roughly it.”
After a terrific shift in Germany against Stuttgart just three weeks earlier, O’Neill’s players might have simply run out of energy in the tank – but from nowhere, they found that second-half display.
Asked if he worried about fitness levels, the interim boss said: “I did. I did, absolutely.
“Because we went in with the front three and back four from Thursday, and that was always a concern.
“So for us to play in the manner in which we did in the second half, almost have scant regard for lack of energy, I think that was terrific.
“And that’s the thing that kept me going, you know.”
In fairness to O’Neill, his two half-time substitutes also made an impact, with Sebastian Tounekti and Reo Hatate replacing Junior Adamu and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Do you prefer seeing Sebastian Tounekti starting or being used as an impact sub?
Where does Rangers draw leave Celtic?
People of a Hearts or Motherwell persuasion would argue that a draw is of no use to Celtic, but context both before and during the game disputes that.
A defeat would’ve left O’Neill’s side with three defeats in their last four, and with all three of their title-rivals gaining three points on them.
Celtic haven’t won at Ibrox in two-and-a-half years, and Rangers are yet to lose there domestically under Danny Rohl. A draw is an absolutely worthwhile result.
When the Hoops return to Ibrox in next weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final, the one guarantee is that the game won’t end in a draw – though O’Neill and his players have Aberdeen to take care of first.
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