Martin O’Neill admitted that he was nervous before Celtic’s game against Falkirk.
O’Neill returned to the Celtic dugout for the first time in 20 years after he was appointed on an interim basis alongside Shaun Maloney while the club tries to find a replacement for Brendan Rodgers.
Despite the return of the Hoops legend, thousands of Celtic fans protested against the board outside of the stadium before kick-off.
For some, it would’ve been a strange experience to see the 73-year-old back on the touchline and the Northern Irishman was unsurprisingly jittery.
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Speaking to the media before the game, O’Neill still seemed shocked that he was back at the place that delivered him so much success, but was relishing the chance.
He said: “Nervous excitement, I never thought this would happen, a semi dream, in many aspects.
We’re ready to go. Falkirk are on the rise, a tough game, they want to come and play.
“I think we need to look after ourselves, get confidence back, and the best way is to do that is by scoring a goal.
“Winning is important, for us, just to get back on the winning trail.”
Martin O’Neill given standing ovation on Celtic return
As expected, the moment the hero himself walked out of the tunnel, he was given a huge welcome back by supporters.
His name was cheered by those inside Celtic Park when read out before the start of the game and was evidently delighted to be home.
Just like the old days, the 73-year-old rocked the iconic tracksuit and didn’t look out of place at all.
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