Martin O’Neill named 10 changes to the Celtic starting XI to face Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup at Rugby Park.
In what wasn’t a surprising announcement, O’Neill’s Celtic team was made up of a mix of experience and youth as the Hoops boss looked to rest some of his key players as the games come thick and fast this season.
Here is how Celtic lined up against Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup.
Is that the starting line up you would’ve picked?
Stephen Welsh comes into the side since his Celtic return to play in a back four that was given a complete shake-up by the Hoops manager.
The midfield four was probably the strongest area of the team with captain Callum McGregor included and not rested.
The front three was hardly a surprise with O’Neill leaving out Daizen Maeda, Hyunjun Yang and Sebastian Tounekti.
But here, O’Neill defends his team selection and denies the 10 changes made were simply down to squad rotation.
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Martin O’Neill explains his thinking behind Celtic’s Scottish Cup starting XI
Speaking just before kick-off, O’Neill explains why Celtic youngster Joseph Haney was named on the Hoops bench for the big Scottish Cup tie.
The Celtic boss told BBC Sportsound when asked if his team selection was down simply to squad rotation,”Well, not just that, also, I want you to have an opportunity to see some of the players as well too.
“I’m loathe to think about the competition in that you’re not treating it, or you are treating it lightly That’s far, far from the case.
One word to sum up that first-half performance
“These players are professional players. There’s one or two young lads in the squad outside that there, and I’ve got Scottish international players, including, I have to say, the captain of the side. He stays in the team.”
Why Callum McGregor stayed in Celtic’s starting XI vs Auchinleck Talbot
If anyone was going to be rested for today’s game, Celtic fans would have expected legendary captain Callum McGregor to be given the day off.
And explaining why Callum McGregor wasn’t rested, O’Neill said, “Just everything about him, absolutely right.
“He wanted to play as well too. So yeah, I’m going to go with it.”
Regardless of the starting XI O’Neill named, Celtic supporters would still expect a win and progress into the next round of the oldest cup competition in football.
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