In an era where football has become increasingly dominated by spreadsheets and data analytics, former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has delivered a refreshingly blunt assessment of the modern game's obsession with statistics.
The legendary Northern Irishman, who led Celtic to three Scottish Premier League titles during his trophy-laden tenure, made his feelings clear about expected goals (xG) and other modern metrics that have become commonplace in football analysis.
The Old School Approach
O'Neill revealed that during his recent visit to Celtic's training ground, he engaged in a fascinating conversation with current manager Brendan Rodgers about the evolving nature of football management. "Brendan was asking me what I thought about xG and all these statistics," O'Neill shared. "I told him quite frankly that I don't believe in it."
The 72-year-old manager, who also enjoyed successful spells with Leicester City and Aston Villa, emphasized that his approach to management has always been rooted in instinct and experience rather than data analysis.
Trusting the Eye Test
"People talk about expected goals - I don't know what that means," O'Neill stated with characteristic candour. "I know when a team should have scored and when they shouldn't have. I don't need a statistic to tell me that."
His comments come at a time when Premier League clubs are investing millions in data analytics departments, with xG becoming one of the most discussed metrics in football punditry and fan conversations alike.
A Changing Landscape
O'Neill acknowledged that the game has transformed significantly since his managerial heyday. "The analysis now is incredible," he admitted. "When I was managing, we had ProZone, which told you how far players had run. Now they're measuring everything."
Despite recognising the advances in technology, the former Nottingham Forest European Cup winner remains steadfast in his belief that some aspects of football management cannot be quantified.
The Human Element
What makes O'Neill's perspective particularly compelling is his remarkable track record of success using his intuitive approach. His Celtic side famously reached the 2003 UEFA Cup final, playing an expansive, attacking style that defied conventional statistical analysis.
"I always trusted what I saw with my own eyes," O'Neill explained. "You can feel the momentum of a game, understand when a player needs encouragement or when a tactical change is necessary. Those things don't show up in the data."
As football continues its love affair with analytics, O'Neill's comments serve as a timely reminder that the beautiful game remains, at its heart, a human drama that cannot be entirely captured by numbers alone.
