Celtic's Midweek Break Fails to Ease O'Neill's Concerns Over Attacking Woes
A rare free midweek in a month offered little respite for Martin O'Neill, who remains besieged by persistent problems at Celtic. The 74-year-old manager welcomed Sunday's victory at Ibrox, but it starkly exposed the team's deficiencies in creativity and finishing during open play. Winning a match without registering a single shot on target is a remarkable feat, yet it underscores deeper issues that cannot be masked by penalty shootouts, which won't be an option against Motherwell this Saturday.
O'Neill Calls for Improved Creativity and Ball Retention
'We have to be a bit more creative,' O'Neill asserted. 'You've got to get hold of the ball. You don't want to be giving it away casually, particularly to Motherwell.' However, achieving this is easier said than done. The absence of captain Callum McGregor, who is expected to return next weekend at Tannadice, will be keenly felt in another must-win game, though O'Neill dismissed long-term injury concerns for the skipper.
Arne Engels remains sidelined, with his return pencilled in for the trip to Dundee in three weeks. Despite these setbacks, the midfield situation is not as dire as initially feared. Paulo Bernardo's cameo role in Govan indicated he still has much to offer this season, while Reo Hatate delivered an improved display, capped with a coolly taken penalty.
Oxlade-Chamberlain's Emergence Offers a Silver Lining
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who appeared short of match fitness when substituted at half-time in the first leg of the double-header, showed signs of improvement when replacing Luke McCowan before the hour mark. The former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder has benefited from an uninterrupted week of training, and O'Neill believes his development could help offset McGregor's absence.
'He could easily play Callum's role, having had that experience,' O'Neill noted. 'Just getting another week's training in and getting used to it ... we do an awful lot of tactical work here. He's a very clever player, but he's having to get used to getting into certain positions that he might not have gone into naturally before.'
Oxlade-Chamberlain's calm conversion of Celtic's first penalty at the Copland Road end demonstrated that his prolonged spell out of the game hasn't affected his nerve. Following James Tavernier's miss, his successful spot-kick set the tone for a flawless sequence that secured Celtic's place in the semi-finals.
Penalty Shootout Victory Masks Underlying Issues
Celtic relied on a penalty shootout to overcome Rangers after failing to register a shot on target during the match. Successful penalties from Auston Trusty, Reo Hatate, and Tomas Cvancara spared O'Neill the anxiety of watching Liam Scales take the fifth kick. 'That was a concern, no question about it,' O'Neill admitted with a smile. 'I scrubbed him from the list twice! I even had Brian Wilson in before him!'
With McGregor and Kieran Tierney among the automatic picks on the sidelines, few expected Celtic to advance. For the fourth consecutive away game, they dug in, producing an effective if unattractive performance. 'We went in with a side shorn of a couple of really good players,' O'Neill explained. 'It was our fourth game in 10 days. So, the longer the game was going on, it became a more defensive job as much as anything else.'
Motherwell Presents a Formidable Challenge
Looking ahead, Motherwell poses a serious threat to Celtic's title aspirations. Under manager Jens Berthel Askou, they have blended style with substance, making them a formidable opponent. Askou's impressive work has even positioned him as a potential successor to O'Neill, should the veteran manager depart this summer.
'It's been very impressive indeed. He's done a really super job,' O'Neill praised. 'He's wanting them to play in a different fashion to the way they've played before. They've accepted that and thought: "Let's see how it goes for a while". Then when you start to win a few matches and play really well, everybody seems on board with it.'
Motherwell's attacking options, including leading goalscorer Tawanda Maswanhise and Ibrahim Said, add to their threat. O'Neill warned, 'When you get a couple of little midfield players who really start to shine, then you've got something happening for you.' As Celtic prepare for Saturday's clash, the need for creativity and clinical finishing has never been more urgent.
