After defeating St Mirren 1-0 on Saturday, the Celtic players made their way over to the Green Brigade ultras, who were finally allowed back in the ground after an unjustified ban.
Their exclusion was lifted before the big match, and the atmosphere was noticeably better at Parkhead. At the full-time whistle, the players went over to the Green Brigade and applauded them, making their thoughts on the situation clear.
Great to see the Green Brigade make a triumphant return home to Paradise this afternoon for today's match against St Mirren.
— The Fast Lovin' Sin-Soaked Heathen (@fast_sin) April 11, 2026
It wasn't only their fellow fans who welcomed the Ultras back with open arms as the Celtic team spent a few moments saluting them at full time as well. pic.twitter.com/2vZ26gbLmv
Not only is this a brilliant moment, but it also sends a message to the board. After months of a partially empty Celtic Park due to the Green Brigade lockout, they will also be excited at the prospect of a great atmosphere for the post-split matches.
Goalscorer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain said after the game: "I could feel a difference, definitely, because I hadn’t experienced it before.
"The atmosphere has been great in previous games, but it was nice to have those guys back, and it’s good for all the fanbase.
"That was my first glimpse into the power those guys have in terms of the rest of the stadium and lifting the rest of the crowd.
"They can help us get over the line in tough games. The crowd will be massive for us, and it was great to see them back in.
"We went over to that small section at the end, and the noise they made and the passion they showed is going to be huge for us. Especially in games like that, when it’s 1-0 and can be a bit cagey.
"That’s the time when you need the fans, and they can make a massive difference for us."
The players are all for the ultras, and the board should be too. They are not though, and that's where the two differ. The board are worried about the wrong things, especially with performances that have been below standard on the pitch. They should take a leaf out of the players' books and care more about what is happening on the pitch.
The manager is delighted too
Martin O'Neill was happy to see the Green Brigade allowed back in the stadium. He said after the match: "I thought the crowd were great to us today because they could easily have got irritated with some of the things that we did. I thought we were loose in possession at times, and they could have done.
"They kept us going, a wee bit like Dundee last week, which I felt had a big effect on us staying in the game at a time just when Dundee had equalised. I really thought the crowd were great.
"If by the end of the season we can get a few things cleared up, rectified, call it what you want. But it felt like a proper Celtic Park atmosphere today."
With the fans, the head coach and the players on the same page, we should hopefully have a boost going into the final stages of the season. With only post-split matches to go in the league, the harmony couldn't have come at a better time.
Hopefully, it will be enough to push Celtic over the line. Nothing would feel better than watching the team lift the Scottish Premiership trophy after a difficult season.