Martin O'Neill's furious touchline reaction during Celtic's demolition of Hearts on Sunday has convinced supporters the 74-year-old manager has his mojo back after a difficult period.
The Hoops were already four goals ahead when Laurent Mendy scored for Hearts, but O'Neill erupted at the officials after noticing the visitors had gained around 20 yards for a throw-in in the build-up. His outburst left even Celtic fans bemused, given the game was effectively over as a contest.
A Flashback to 2003
The incident brought back memories of O'Neill's first spell at Parkhead 25 years ago, when he was sent to the stands during a Europa League tie against Celta Vigo and accused the fourth official of pushing him. That night, Henrik Larsson's goal secured a 1-0 first-leg win, and John Hartson's away goal helped Celtic progress to the UEFA Cup semi-final on the road to Seville.
After that match, O'Neill said: "The fourth official actually pushed me. It was inappropriate without a doubt. I don't know whether we would have any chance of doing anything about it. I would probably say no chance, but I certainly want to send some video evidence of that particular incident and of the game itself."
He added: "The referee's performance left a lot to be desired. He tried to ruin what was a brilliant evening for us. He did his best to spoil proceedings and he had an obvious problem with the linesman because he overruled him consistently and excessively. That affected the linesman's confidence, but that's enough talking about it because the referee did detract from our performance. The players were terrific against a top class side."
Back on Track
O'Neill may have mellowed slightly, but Sunday proved it is not by much. His touchline rant was as welcome to fans as the seven goals and Jota's skill in embarrassing Jordi Altena. The manager had appeared beaten after losing to Rangers for a second time in a week, looking like a man who might walk away if offered a way out.
Instead, he has guided Celtic to impressive domestic wins against Motherwell and Hearts, games that some had marked as potential setbacks. The manager has also shown renewed determination in Europe, claiming Celtic could still qualify from their Europa League group despite losses to Ferencvaros and Benfica, and branding Thursday's clash with Celta Vigo as win or bust.
European Concerns Remain
Celtic's European reputation has suffered this season, with a capitulation against LASK and further defeats to Ferencvaros and Benfica. The issues that have plagued the side against better teams persist, including how they cope without the ball and whether they can withstand periods of pressure.
Celta Vigo, mid-table in La Liga, will not be as generous as Hearts, who still managed 20 attempts on goal despite the heavy defeat. O'Neill has his mojo back, but he needs a game plan and an attitude similar to his 2003 display against the Spaniards to prove his side are no pushovers.
