Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has lavished praise on his team's "colossal spirit" following a dramatic 2-2 draw against Bologna in the Europa League, a result that significantly enhances their prospects of advancing to the knockout stages. The Northern Irishman, however, expressed firm belief that his side would have secured victory had they not been reduced to ten men early in the first half.
A Costly Dismissal Alters the Course of the Match
The pivotal moment arrived in the 34th minute when midfielder Reo Hatate received his second yellow card in a mere three-minute span, leading to his dismissal. Hatate had earlier gifted Celtic the lead, capitalising on a glaring error from Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Scorupski. His fouls on Lewis Ferguson and Juan Miranda, however, prompted Greek referee Vasilis Fotias to show him a red card, a decision O'Neill later described as "pretty harsh."
"My own view is that if we had stayed with 11 men, we would have won the game," asserted the 73-year-old manager, who was himself booked for protesting the decision. "The sending off had a major effect. I thought we played brilliantly, got the goal and looked a really decent outfit—played some really great stuff."
Resilient Defence Secures a Precious Point
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Celtic displayed remarkable defensive fortitude. Bologna exploited their extra man to take a 2-1 lead into half-time, with Austin Trusty scoring just before the interval. The Italian side then drew level in the second half through goals from Thijs Dallinga and Jonathan Rowe, but a resolute, backs-to-the-wall performance from the Scottish champions ensured they clung on for a valuable point.
O'Neill was effusive in his admiration for his players' commitment. "We spend all the second half defending. I thought the spirit they showed, the willingness to get blocks in and defend the penalty box was really splendid," he said. He reserved particular acclaim for defender Auston Trusty, describing his performance as "magnificent" and stating he "epitomised the spirit of the team."
Apology and Focus on the Decisive Finale
Revealing that a distraught Hatate had apologised both at half-time and full-time, O'Neill acknowledged the midfielder needed to exercise more caution. "You have to be a bit careful," he noted, while maintaining his criticism of the referee's eagerness to issue the second booking.
The draw leaves Celtic's fate in their own hands. A victory against Utrecht in their final Group F fixture at Celtic Park next Thursday will guarantee progression to the round of 16. "We've given ourselves a chance to get through and, from that viewpoint, I'm delighted," O'Neill stated. "Given the circumstances, absolutely [it's a point gained]. We showed a great resilience. We have to win next Thursday."
Trusty, reflecting on the team's mentality to TNT Sports, said, "It was a tough ask but the team showed their true mentality. A shame not to get three points, but it's a good point... We tied today, but that's the mindset. We lost our way a little bit, and now we're finding our way back."
