Former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill believes that Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side can qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League.
The Irishman became only the second manager in the clubs history to lead the Hoops to a European final almost 20 years ago but is adamant that under Postecoglou this side can make inroads in European football.
Celtic currently sit bottom of Group F after three matches but have a chance to avenge the defeat in Germany last week and go above RB Leipzig in the group.
It’s wide open with Real Madrid the only team looking certain to qualify with the other three teams vying for second place.
With Celtic having now played all the opposition in this group, the remaining two home matches are a great chance to show why Celtic belong at this level.
“I have watched all three games on TV. In the first game against Real Madrid, I thought they did really great in the game. They had a great chance to take the lead,” said Martin O’Neill speaking to the Glasgow Times.
“Regardless of Real Madrid’s assuredness, it might have been a different story if they’d scored the first goal.
“Again, they could easily have won the game against Donetsk. Considering they were away from home against Leipzig, they had some chances as well.
“This game is now massive. They really have to win it. But they are genuinely capable of winning the game.”
Celtic have once again shown that they can compete at this level but it also shows how tough the level is.
Under O’Neill, Celtic Park was a fortress and many fans want it to once again return to being a venue which opposition teams fear.
“I remember getting past Ajax to reach the group phase for the first time and I thought ‘yes, let’s go’. We got to 2-2 in the game at Juventus and the referee gave a penalty kick for essentially nothing.
“That point eventually became so, so important because we ended up with nine points and didn’t go through.
“It is possible Ange might get through with seven. If they win these home games, they must have a really decent chance. I think they are capable of winning those games.
“I honestly think they do have to win them. It was an interesting result when Shakhtar went to Leipzig and won. I thought that was a really good result for Celtic.
“Leipzig would probably be considered the second team in the group, behind Real Madrid, so to lose a home game I thought was good news and eventually it might still work out that way.”
If Celtic don’t make it to the knockout stages of the Champions League, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for the club to drop into the Europa League if they tried to get third place in the group.
Fans want to see improvement in European competition this season but the league title is still the main objective. Both can be done in tangent though which will continue to take the club forward under Postecoglou.
