Normally, after a high-profile game in Europe, Celtic fans would expect the manager to be quizzed about the game, especially after such a big defeat.
Celtic’s loss to FC Midtjylland came off the back of a disastrous eight-minute spell where the Bhoys conceded three goals.
Celtic fans will have been keen to hear O’Neill’s thoughts on a defensive display that was so far removed from what the Northern Irishman usually serves up.
Whilst O’Neill was bullish about Celtic’s chances of Europa League qualification, the manner of the defeat was clearly the last thing TNT Sports reporter Connie McLaughlin wanted to talk about.
- READ MORE: Martin O’Neill’s message to Celtic fans chanting ‘sack the board’ after FC Midtjylland defeat
Martin O’Neill’s strange post-match FC Midtjylland Celtic recruitment interview
The interview, which was posted on TNT Sports’ YouTube channel, ran for 4 minutes and 54 seconds but more than half of that was spent with the reporter’s incessant, and often interrupting, questions about Celtic’s January recruitment and the hunt for the next permanent manager.
The interview started on TNT Sports with this question, ” I know we’re only November, but are you in a situation right now where you want to have a window?
“Are you getting that sense where it’s whetting your appetite enough where you think I want one?”
O’Neill: “No, that’s a really good point. Well, you can’t do anything about it because the window will come regardless of whether you want it or don’t want it.”
Reporter: “But do you want to be here though?”
O’Neill: “Well, I will be here as long as the football board want me. It’s as simple as that. And that could be at the end of the week. It could be after the Kilmarnock game. I just don’t know.”
Reporter: “Could it be the end of the season?”
O’Neill: “I genuinely wouldn’t know…”
Reporter [interrupting] “Would you want it to be?”
O’Neill: “Well, I think that you’re asking a lot there at this minute of a gentleman who was happy enough to just get coffees beforehand and now he’s suddenly stepping into this.
“If you’re asking me in a way, I enjoyed tonight and I learned a great deal and you learn a lot. You know, it’s a very fine football side we’re playing against and we have to compete.
“And what I thought in the second half is that we did that.”
Martin O’Neill denies talks with the Celtic board over recruitment and manager selection
The interview took an even stranger turn when the reporter then asked about O’Neill’s role in choosing the next Celtic manager.
Reporter: Let me ask you just this final question. Are you in consistent and constant discussions with the board?
“Do you know or are you involved in the process in terms of where they’re at with it? [selecting a new manager].”
O’Neill: “No, I’m not. No. No…”
Reporter [interrupting again]: “Do you want to be?”
O’Neill: “No, no, I don’t really want to be either. You know, I just want to be told when my time is up.”
Reporter: “Do you suspect that or are you going to plan for yourself as well because I guess from your point of view, you want to do your job, you want to do it well. To do that, you need to begin to be able to plan?”
O’Neill: “No, I mean there is a January transfer window coming up and I think that all football clubs probably aim to try and strengthen or alleviate situations, whatever they want to do. And that I don’t think that’ll be any different at this football club.
“To me January is miles away.”
Reporter: “Are you involved in that planning, though?”
O’Neill: “No. No. No.”
You can watch the whole bizarre episode unfold here:
O’Neill has stated on a number of occasions that he does not want to be the next Celtic manager despite admitting the idea does appeal.
The Northern Irishman has also said consistently that he has no role to play in who Celtic choose or the selection process for the permanent boss.
The interview was strange to watch as O’Neill was persistently interrupted and barely asked any questions about the Europa League defeat that leaves qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
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