Martin O'Neill on Celtic start to season, transfers and Rangers competition

Martin O'Neill talks Celtic transfers, Rangers competition and more.

Transcript

00:00Well, opening game, I think the most important thing is obviously winning the match.

00:06They came very, very late. They can play much better, naturally.

00:10But they now opened up a two-point gap.

00:13So, in the scheme of things, that might be big.

00:17I've always said it before, and I suppose it's worth repeating,

00:20I think for Celtic to be strong this season, need a strong Rangers side.

00:24And that might happen this season.

00:27Certainly, European games for Rangers have been terrific.

00:30I heard the comments from the manager after the Motherworld debacle.

00:35Yeah, but it's early. It's early.

00:37But what you don't want is, you know, if I can compare and contrast my opening time here,

00:45I got lucky in the sense that we won late in our first game at Dundee United.

00:50Jeez, it's 25 years ago.

00:52And I got that wee bit of luck.

00:55And so, by the time that we came to the Rangers game, we had modern matches,

00:58particularly a tough game at Hearts.

01:00So, the most important thing is obviously winning the games.

01:03But it could be an interesting season, you know.

01:06The major gripe, I think, at the moment with supporters is the lack of transfer activity,

01:10especially in that forward area.

01:12Can you understand why the fans are maybe getting a little bit anxious,

01:16especially when they look across the city and see that Rangers are spending?

01:19Right, okay.

01:20Well, that anxiety is nothing new.

01:22You know, it was there in my time.

01:24Each season was the same.

01:25And I do remember, I remember Celtic fans complaining about this before my time,

01:34saying that, you know, why should they be signing a 33-year-old player in Miralcic,

01:41who just turned out to be one of the best.

01:43But, you know, there's always a bit of anxiety, Celtic.

01:49And I think particularly the great European run last season,

01:54they might be expecting a bit more.

01:59But some players came in at a time last season, remember?

02:03Just when everybody thought, oh, nothing's going to happen.

02:06And it did.

02:07It worked out fine.

02:08So, no, Brendan's been in this position before.

02:12I think he'll deal with it.

02:15But most, if he's anything like me,

02:17he'll be wanting the players in.