It’s night and day between Martin O’Neill and Wilfried Nancy at Celtic.
That was proven over the weekend when Celtic beat Dundee United 4-0 to return to winning ways, and remove some of the dark clouds above Parkhead.
One man who made his first start for the champions of Scotland on Saturday was right-back Julian Araujo, and he was all smiles when talking about Celtic’s legendary manager.
Remember, Araujo was signed by the Hoops to play in Nancy’s chaotic system before his sacking, but he was lauding the man who has, once again, returned to the Celtic Park dugout.
- READ MORE: Celtic managed to do something under Martin O’Neill that they never achieved with Wilfried Nancy
I want the next manager of Celtic to be…
Julian Araujo on what he’s been told by Martin O’Neill and Celtic coaching staff
O’Neill has brought back simplicity to proceedings, and Araujo has shared what is happening behind the scenes.
Speaking in his post-match Dundee United press conference on Celtic TV, Araujo stated that O’Neill is ‘letting me play’, and he has given him ‘that confidence’ to showcase his worth.
“Yeah, (O’Neill’s message to me was quite simple),” said Araujo. “I think it was just him letting me play. Giving me the confidence to do what I do.
“They obviously brought me here for a reason. They know what I am capable of. They just gave me that confidence just to go out there and play.
“What they want me to do can change in a game because of the situation. They just let me play my game. There are little things that I can build on. We will watch the game over with the analysis to see what I can build off, and what they want more from me. But I am happy.”
How much responsibility should the players take for Nancy’s tenure, given how quickly they seem to have turned it around with Dundee win?
Araujo compares O’Neill to Mexico coach Javier Aguirre
O’Neill is an old-school coach; he doesn’t complicate things like the modern-day coach, and he simplifies the message to the players.
Araujo stated that he fully understands the ‘legend’ O’Neill is in Glasgow, and how he is ‘very similar’ to his national team coach.
Javier Aguirre is Mexico’s coach, after the 67-year-old returned for a third spell in charge of his nation in 2024 and started his managerial career in 1995.
“He is a legend here,” stated Araujo about O’Neill. “I knew what he means to this club, for sure. I think he is very similar to what my national team manager likes.
“He is very simple, to the basics, but everybody knows their role. He gives you that confidence. He puts you under a lot of pressure because he knows what your capabilities are. I think he is good for the club.
“The players know him more than I do. I have only been with him for a couple of days now. But from what I have seen, and what I know, he is a good man and a good gaffer.
“I just think it’s giving confidence. We all knew the situation we were in. So, it was just getting past that. One game at a time. Maintaining the confidence that we have. Playing the play style that we have.”
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