Celtic showed a far different side to them during their domestic double success this season.
Usually, Celtic are walking away with the Premiership title, as they proved last term under Brendan Rodgers, but it was far different this time around.
But even though the champions of Scotland were pushed until the final few minutes of the campaign, they were still triumphant, as Andy Walker hailed Martin O’Neill for his efforts and the ‘mentality’ shown by those in green and white.
Walker was also correct to fire shots at Rangers, who finished third in the Premiership table, and how they seemingly ‘dismiss’ the notion that Celtic’s success and the Ibrox club’s failure isn’t down to ‘mentality.’
“That description that he gave of ‘just having a spirit,'” said Walker. “I think ‘mentality’ is a good word. I know that a lot of people at Rangers dismiss it. ‘Oh, it has nothing to do with mentality.’
“I think it is. Rangers have lacked that sort of ‘never say die, winning mentality’ for some time, but with this group of Celtic players, they got the job done. Well done to them.”
- READ MORE: Billy Dodds reveals what he did every time he came up against Celtic captain Callum McGregor
Give us your gut feeling after the cup final… will Martin O’Neill be Celtic manager next season?
Andy Walker hails Celtic’s ‘mentality’ under Martin O’Neill as Rangers go trophyless again
The problem for the rest of Scottish football is the fact that this was their chance to down a struggling Celtic.
But the mighty Hoops are so strong that during a season of utter chaos and change, they were still one game away from winning a domestic Treble.
That’s why Walker, speaking on Go Radio, wanted to give O’Neill his flowers for picking up this group of players and ensuring that they showcase a ‘never say die’ attitude during the latter part of the season.
“Whoever comes in, the style of football is pretty much there, in terms of it has to be fast, attacking football,” said Walker.
“I have got to say, it hasn’t always been like that this season. It’s been a bit of a disappointment for a lot of Celtic supporters, but my goodness, Martin O’Neill, somehow, got this group of players, not the most vintage players.
“You are looking at the management. The difference a manager can make to a group of players who were underachieving or not playing to their full potential, somehow, he has been able to lift them.
“That description that he gave of ‘just having a spirit.’ I think ‘mentality’ is a good word. I know that a lot of people at Rangers dismiss it. ‘Oh, it has nothing to do with mentality.’
“I think it is. Rangers have lacked that sort of ‘never say die, winning mentality’ for some time, but with this group of Celtic players, they got the job done. Well done to them.”
Celtic and Rangers’ trophy count since 2000
Ever since O’Neill’s first legendary spell in Glasgow, it has been, more often than not, one-way traffic in the Premiership.
Whether it’s O’Neill himself, Brendan Rodgers or even the all-action Ange Postecoglou. They all have one thing in common, and that’s helping themselves to memorable Trebles.
Either way, Celtic have absolutely dismantled Rangers and everyone before them when it comes to winning trophies since the turn of the century:
- Celtic’s trophies: 44
- Rangers’ trophies: 18
- St Johnstone’s trophies: 3
- Hearts’ trophies: 2
- Aberdeen’s trophies: 2
- Hibernian’s trophies: 2
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
