Martin O'Neill has called for a performance of 'renewed enthusiasm' as Celtic prepare to face Utrecht in the Europa League on Thursday. The 73-year-old manager, in his second interim spell, is determined to keep the club's European ambitions alive despite a challenging domestic campaign. 'We don't now want to just throw it away,' O'Neill said. 'We want to try and go for it if we can.'
Utrecht arrive in Glasgow with just one point from seven Eredivisie matches, sitting 11th in the Dutch league. Failure to progress would be a significant blow to Celtic's credibility, but O'Neill remains focused on the task at hand. A victory could set up a pivotal Sunday fixture against Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership, where Celtic face mounting pressure from Hearts and Rangers in a three-way title race.
The club's transfer inactivity has frustrated supporters, with only loan arrivals Julián Araujo and Tomas Cvancara during the January window. O'Neill, however, refused to criticise the board, stressing a willingness to spend before Monday's deadline. 'Who is to say we might not spend money? There is a willingness,' he insisted. He also acknowledged the difficulty of balancing short-term needs with long-term planning, noting that a new manager is likely to take over next season.
O'Neill's European pedigree includes famous Champions League nights at Celtic Park, and he sees no reason why the club cannot aim high again. 'That's what the club is there for,' he said. 'Whether we are good enough to compete in this competition, that's in the lap of the gods. But that's where the club should be aiming for.' The interim manager will hope his side can recapture some of that past glory against Utrecht.
