Martin O'Neill reckons tonight's Champions League conflict with RB Leipzig isn't solely a 'must-win' for Celtic however a 'will win'.
The previous Parkhead boss believes Celtic created sufficient probabilities in Germany final week's 3-1 defeat to be assured that they will get at Leipzig with the backing of a 60,000 capability crowd in Glasgow's East Finish. O'Neill was again within the metropolis he made residence for 5 years between 2000-2005 as he helped launch William Hill’s newly reworked, state-of-the-art store on Gordon Road and he insisted that regardless of having taken just one level from their first three Champions League matches, Europe's elite competitors is the place they - and Rangers - need to be competing.
The Northern Irishman mentioned: “It’s completely important for them to be within the Champions League and in addition for Rangers as effectively. Two groups enjoying within the Champions League, you realize you discuss in regards to the experiences, each golf equipment shall be higher for it this season. It’s so necessary for Scottish soccer. That is actually a should win recreation for Celtic as a result of if Leipzig get too far in entrance of them now then that’s going to be very, very troublesome to beat. That is the should win, so there’s no level in speaking about some other fixture apart from this one.
“Now we have to win this recreation they usually’re able to doing it. They confirmed in Leipzig, the place they'd quite a lot of the ball, created some actually good probabilities as effectively, that if they may convert a few of these probabilities into targets then they're undoubtedly able to successful the sport.
“The ambiance shall be phenomenal. You consider Actual Madrid who play on the Bernabeu Stadium they usually’re speaking in regards to the ambiance, it’s actually actually particular. The ambiance on European nights and the video games towards Rangers – it’s unbelievable, it’s very very arduous to explain, it’s so up-lifting.
“The performances have been good, the outcomes haven’t matched I need to admit, however now they've an opportunity towards Leipzig to attempt to put that proper.
"Of their opening recreation towards Actual Madrid for an hour I assumed they performed splendidly and will simply have taken the lead in that match, and also you by no means know although it’s Actual Madrid – they’re a really assured crew clearly from successful the Champions League – that end result may need been totally different.
“Of their different two performances they may simply have gained these video games, they’re sitting there with one level on the board in the meanwhile – and these subsequent two matches are completely important for them – they’re able to successful the video games and that will be improbable."
And the 70-year praised the big influence Ange Postecoglou has made in enhancing the fortunes of his former membership since taking on final summer season.
O'Neill added: “Oh he’s had a good time, no query about that. He got here in, the outcomes had been sticky fairly early on, the gamers that he introduced into the soccer membership, I don’t suppose they had been family names in that sense, however he’s had a extremely good run and the gamers have responded. It’s been a extremely good time for Celtic.”
READ NEXT