Martin O’Neill reminded players they were ‘winners’ before Celtic homecoming

Martin O’Neill told the Celtic players they were winners before they marked his homecoming with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Falkirk at Parkhead.

The 73-year-old former Hoops manager was installed along with ex-Celtic player Shaun Maloney as the interim management team following the stunning resignation of Brendan Rodgers on Monday night.

Irish striker Johnny Kenny scored twice in the first half before goals after the break from midfielder Benjamin Nygren and wide-man Sebastian Tounekti took the Hoops to within six points of William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts, who drew 2-2 at St Mirren.

O’Neill, who was Hoops boss between 2000 and 2005, said: “I know the confidence’s been a bit low. That’s the most natural thing in the world, even the very, very best sides if you’re not getting a result.

“Players then stop doing things that they almost like naturally would do.

“There’s some of the lads in the dressing room that would have no idea who I was but they’re only about 10 years old and some of the other lads, I said we have quite a number of winners in the dressing room. That’s really important.

“Those lads have experienced some lows during the course of the season and then fight back and the captain (Callum McGregor), he’s a real quality player.

“But there was great performances all around this evening and just to win.

“So, yeah, they becalmed my dreadful insecurity problems. Naturally, delighted to win the game. But there wasn’t a thought about anything else.”

O’Neill joked about being nervous before the game.

He added: “Well, first of all, I jokingly said – maybe true – I have not been as nervous since I sat my 11-plus but, again, I think I passed that when I was 48.

“But honestly, really concerned about the game, naturally.

“Concerned about the usual thing about letting myself down, which is I’ve done so many times it’s untrue, and letting other people down here at the football club.

“Just coming in a bit of a whirlwind and to play in the manner which we did when I thought was great and obviously most important thing was winning the game.

“Naturally, I couldn’t be more pleased. I thought the players did really brilliantly.”

Falkirk boss John McGlynn accepted Celtic were simply too good for his men – who lost 4-1 in the Premier Sports Cup earlier in the season – but will “bin it” and move on.

He said: “We have to move on. Saturday is more important than this game. It was always going to be hard. We stayed in the game for 30 minutes till the goal.

“Losing the third goal killed us. Celtic have that sharpness and we’re not at that level when they are.

“We bin it. We won’t be competing for the top two positions in the league.

“It (Celtic’s change of manager) didn’t affect us at all. They had a short period to turn it around. That was basically the same style we played against in the League Cup.

“They’re too quick with their ability and that’s what happens when you pay the big bucks.”