No Celtic future chat before cup final, says O’Neill

May 18, 2026 No Comments

No Celtic future talks before cup final for O’NeillFigure caption, Published2 hours agoMartin O’Neill is not expecting any talks about his future at Celtic before Saturday’s Scottish Cup final with Dunfermline Athletic – and doubts whether he would “have the energy” to continue.O’Neill, who first managed Celtic from 2000 to 2005, has twice stepped in as interim manager this season after the departures of Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy.Upon his second return in January, Celtic trailed leaders Hearts by six points.The Tynecastle side went into Saturday’s meeting with Celtic in Glasgow one point in front and were on course to be champions at 1-1 until Celtic scored two late goals to give O’Neill another Scottish Premiership title-winning moment.”No, I don’t think anything would be stated,” O’Neill, 74, stated on TalkSPORT when asked about his and the club’s managerial future.Celtic apologise to Hearts over pitch invasion

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“We’ve got the big Scottish Cup final next Saturday and I don’t think that anything would be discussed [before] then, nor was I expecting it to.

“If you were asking me today, I genuinely wouldn’t have the energy to do it at this moment. I am fairly decent in terms of age. I’m going to see less days than I’ve seen.”

O’Neill has been pleased by how he has dealt with the demands of the job, but what happens next is unclear.

He added: “Who knows? I definitely found energy from somewhere. I think that was to do with working with a lot of people, young coaches who were fantastic for me. And also, stepping into the training ground each day and seeing a lot of young people, I did definitely, I felt a rejuvenation.

“I definitely felt some sort renaissance as much as anything else. And that hasn’t left me as from today. I’m tired, but it hasn’t left me as from today.

“Do I think that Celtic should offer me? I don’t think that. Do I feel I’ve merited? Of course I have.”

Major shareholder Dermot Desmond twice asked O’Neill back to the club this term and O’Neill stated he had spent “a couple of minutes” with Desmond following Saturday’s win, adding: “He was in really good form.”

Highlights: Celtic 3-1 Hearts

It was also put to O’Neill that the ugly scenes at full-time as spectators entered the pitch tainted the image of Celtic’s win.

“I totally disagree with that,” stated O’Neill. “I don’t know about the confrontations in terms of the Hearts players. There’s a lot of hyperbole about that. Let’s find out the real picture.”

He was then asked about Hearts referring to the scenes, external as having “embarrassed Scottish football”.

O’Neill replied: “As they might do. I just don’t believe it. I think it’s nonsense.

“Let me have a look at the picture, let me have a look as if I was judge and jury of these particular things. Let me see the scenes at the end of the day and then I’ll come back to you, OK.”

No Celtic future chat before cup final, says O’Neill

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