Martin O'Neill has told his Celtic team they need to toughen up ahead of Thursday night's Europa League clash with Ferencvaros. Celtic lost 3-0 to Rangers on Sunday, but the result was not the most concerning part, even if it was a painful one to take, with it being an Old Firm.
The biggest concern was the Hoops' lack of physicality, and it saw them bullied off the park by Rangers, who were not only tougher, but simply wanted it more on a day that both teams should have been willing to die for the result.
Celtic have finesse, especially in midfield and up top, with players like Mika Baur and Benjamin Nygren in the midfield, and up top with players like Haissem Hassan and Camilo Duran.
But on big occasions this season, they have crumbled, and that is not a trait they want to carry into the rest of the campaign. Celtic are going to have more big occasions to confront, including in the Europa League and in the league, starting this Sunday, when they face Rangers again, this time at home.
Celtic are going to have to improve that side of their game, and quickly. But O'Neill needs no reminding.
“They taught us a lesson in terms of physicality," said the Bhoys boss ahead of Thursday night's clash. "It’s something that you would have to look at. And we tried to address that as best as possible.”
O'Neill also spoke about how his side need to bounce back from their Rangers bruising.
"We’ve had the setback on Sunday, something that you have to, you know, you have to, first of all, look at it,” O’Neill added on CelticPlayer. "Then you have to hurt a bit, you have to hurt a lot, I think, and that’s the way that I spent my career.”
The natural toughness is something Celtic are going to have to find, especially in the midfield. Failure to replace Arne Engels has left the Bhoys without a way to properly dominate in midfield, and without that, they are going to have to find other ways to dominate.
McGregor can play that role, but Baur is not a holding midfielder, nor is he a physical player, so you wonder how O'Neill is going to achieve that. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may play a bigger role, but then Baur's ability on the ball is also going to be required. Regular midfield rotation could be the key, depending on the nature of the game.
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