Key Highlights
- Celtic manager Martin O’Neill returns to the European arena with a match against Midtjylland.
- Martin O’Neill aims for Celtic to achieve 10 points in their Europa League campaign.
- Martin O’Neill compares current situation to Jock Stein’s era, setting high standards for European football success.
- Midtjylland currently lead the Europa League table with three wins out of three games played.
Celtic Manager Reflects on European Return
Martin O’Neill, who recently took over as manager of Celtic FC, returns to European competition for the first time since his managerial tenure. This comes in a match against Danish side Midtjylland on Thursday evening at MCH Arena in Herning.
Speaking about the upcoming game, O’Neill expressed confidence and set ambitious goals: “If I was looking at the table, I would be looking to try to get 10 points on the board,” he said. “Maybe that might be enough to get through. We’ve only got two home games left, three away. It’s not going to be easy.”
Midtjylland’s Strong Start in Europa League
Martin O’Neill acknowledged Midtjylland’s strong performance so far this season: “They were great against Nottingham Forest,” he added. “Really great away from home, against a Forest side that are actually physically quite strong themselves.”
O’Neill further praised the Danes’ abilities, stating, “Not only are they very good in set pieces, but they’re also a really good, talented side. Really, really very good. They were excellent on the evening and it’s no surprise that they’ve got full points from their games.” Midtjylland currently sit atop the Europa League table with three consecutive victories.
Expert Perspectives: Head Coach and Goalkeeper
Martin O’Neill’s former team, Celtic, have a mixed record against Danish opposition. The most recent meeting between the two sides occurred in 2021 during Champions League qualifying, resulting in Midtjylland’s victory over Celtic.
Midtjylland head coach Mike Tullberg expressed confidence but acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead: “I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a tough match for us. Of course it’s a manager who has seen a lot and done a lot, with a lot of experience.” He continued by focusing on his team’s preparation rather than the opponent.
Meanwhile, Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel echoed O’Neill’s sentiments about returning to European football: “A lot of things are a lot easier when you get the confidence of winning games.
And one of the first things the boss said was to remind us that we are a very good team. That was one of the big issues with us.”
Match Statistics and Recent Performances
The match will take place on Thursday, 6 November at MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark, starting at 17:45 GMT. Midtjylland have been dominant this season, having won all their games so far in the Europa League. In contrast, Celtic are currently in a less favorable position, sitting 21st with just one win and one draw from four matches.
Midtjylland’s most recent encounter against Scottish opponents was in the Europa League qualifying round earlier this year, where they defeated Hibernian 3-2 on aggregate. The match is significant for both teams as it marks a return to European competition for Celtic under O’Neill’s leadership.
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