The narrative surrounding Celtic’s post-split fixtures continues to dominate the headlines, as Jim White tried his best to suggest Martin O’Neill’s side have ‘lucked out’.
Celtic will host Rangers and Hearts on home soil as this three-way mouthwatering title race nears its conclusion.
But on talkSPORT, White, in a direct interview with the Celtic manager, suggested that his team have been lucky regarding the make-up of the post-split fixtures.
Thankfully, O’Neill remained calm, refused to take the bait and answered White’s nonsense in the best possible way.
“You are saying, ‘lucking out’, we might be out of contention by that time,” responded O’Neill.
“You just never know. That’s the point. The very fact that we had three games, because we have to have 19 homes and 19 away… I think it’s the only way they could have done it.”
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Martin O’Neill shuts down talk of Celtic ‘luck’ after release of post-split fixtures
It’s interesting to hear the noise coming from Hearts and Rangers fans, because if this is the feeling between the players, then that fear will transmit itself onto the pitch.
Thankfully, the champions of Scotland have one of the best people to deal with all this noise and pressure, and that might just be an extra edge Celtic hold over their rivals.
Either way, O’Neill isn’t separating Hearts and Rangers, as he sees them both in the same boat: desperately trying to take out Celtic.
White: “For whatever reason, you have lucked out, though, haven’t you? It has fallen in your (favour).
“Having said that, Martin, how damaging might the image be for you if Hearts lift the SPFL trophy at Celtic Park?”
O’Neill: “That can happen (Hearts winning the league). Absolutely. You are saying, ‘lucking out’, we might be out of contention by that time. You just never know. That’s the point.
“The very fact that we had three games, because we have to have 19 homes and 19 away. So, the fact that we have three games in the split. I think it’s the only way they could have done it.”
White: “Who concerns you more? Hearts or Rangers.”
O’Neill: “Both.”
White: “Do you put them both on the same level as in the competition they will provide in the run-in?”
O’Neill: “Absolutely, yes. There is no distinction between the two of them. Very, very much so.”
White: “Are you relieved that you have both of them at home?”
O’Neill: “That’s something, can I say? An advantage that you would rather have. We had some difficult games in recent times at Ibrox. I know we got through on penalties in the Scottish Cup, and then we fought back brilliantly when they outplayed us in the first half of the game in the league match. We fought back 2-2.
“Those sorts of things you can maybe fall back on and think you have some confidence going into home games.”
Celtic’s results against post-split opponents this season
Before the mayhem of the split can begin, everyone has to deal with their respective league games this weekend, with O’Neill’s side taking on St Mirren.
That’s when Hearts and Rangers will go on a break, as Celtic play St Mirren again, this time at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
And then the real madness begins. Falkirk are up first at Parkhead, so here is a look at exactly how Celtic have fared against their post-split opponents at these specific venues so far this season.
- Celtic 4-1 Falkirk, August, League Cup
- Celtic 4-0 Falkirk, October, Premiership
- Hibernian 1-2 Celtic, November, Premiership
- Celtic 1-2 Hearts, December, Premiership
- Motherwell 2-0 Celtic, December, Premiership
- Celtic 1-3 Rangers, January, Premiership
- Celtic 2-0 Falkirk, February, Premiership
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