In a post-match interview, manager Martin O'Neill offered his perspective on Celtic's recent 1-0 triumph over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park. Despite creating numerous scoring opportunities, the lone goal came from Mika Baur. O'Neill addressed a contentious VAR decision that controversially nullified a Celtic goal by Haissem Hassan, highlighting the impact of recent rule changes on game outcomes. The discussion also covered player performances, tactical adjustments, and the team's preparations for their next fixture.
During the press conference, which began with questions from Peter Martin, O'Neill candidly assessed the team's display. He acknowledged a slow start, noting that despite significant possession, Celtic initially struggled to convert chances. A critical moment arrived with Sam Johnstone's crucial save, which O'Neill described as a potential turning point, preventing a repeat of previous frustrating results. The team showed improved intensity in the second half, securing the decisive goal and maintaining their lead. O'Neill emphasized that while they could have scored more, the victory was hard-fought.
Addressing the high number of crosses into the box, O'Neill viewed it as a positive, despite some crosses being easily handled by the opposing goalkeeper. He expressed satisfaction with the team's ability to deliver balls from wide positions. Regarding St Johnstone's performance, O'Neill stated he was not surprised by their resilience and tactical approach, having observed their earlier season matches. He praised their enthusiasm and effective style of play, drawing parallels to St Mirren's challenge. He commended his team's stout defense in the latter stages of the game when the outcome remained uncertain.
The debut of goalkeeper Sam Johnstone was a significant talking point, particularly his "fantastic" reaction save. O'Neill highlighted Johnstone's potential and the need for him to fully integrate with the team, even jokingly mentioning Johnstone's cramp as a unique occurrence for a goalkeeper. This performance, O'Neill admitted, provides "food for thought" regarding the starting goalkeeper for the upcoming weekend, especially given Viljami Sinisalo's consistent reliability.
O'Neill further explained his decision to rotate the squad, including starting Oliver Sorensen while resting key player Duran for much of the game. He acknowledged Duran's exceptional work rate, both offensively and defensively, and the challenge of playing without him. The manager also shared insights on Kasper Hogh's return from injury, noting that while Hogh didn't score, his overall contribution was satisfactory, especially considering his recovery process.
On Mika Baur's goal and overall performance, O'Neill noted Baur's smaller stature, humorously stating that in football, smaller players must be "brilliant." He expressed confidence that Baur has much more to offer as he adapts to the team environment. The return of Kieran Tierney was also welcomed, providing a timely boost to the squad. O'Neill's concluding remarks conveyed his satisfaction with the win and his focus on preparing for the next crucial match, emphasizing the importance of evaluating players in competitive situations rather than solely on the training ground.
