NafisaAuston Trusty has opened up on Martin O’Neill’s approach inside the dressing room after Celtic’s massive 3-1 triumph over Rangers on Sunday.
The USA international produced an impressive display as Martin O’Neill’s side edged closer to the league title with a showing packed full of energy, aggression and composure.
With only two Premiership fixtures remaining, Celtic understand that victories over Motherwell and Hearts would secure yet another championship. After the manner in which they dismantled Rangers, there is now a growing feeling among both the squad and supporters that the momentum has swung firmly back in their favour.
Trusty’s post-match comments gave supporters a real insight into the reasons behind that shift.
The defender revealed how O’Neill speaks to the players before matches, and it sounded exactly like the kind of mentality supporters would expect from someone who fully understands the intensity and demands of this fixture. He said (TCW):
“He’s calm but also a little bit aggressive. He really wants to hound his message.
“But he has a lot of experience and knows exactly what to say. And we reacted well to it.
“He’s the same every game. Every game is a Champions League game to him. He’s about being in the present, the past is in the past, and you can’t think about the future. You have to be in the present.
“He just tells us what we need to do to win the game and we get ourselves ready to go.”
There was a clear sharpness about Celtic throughout Sunday’s derby. They played with purpose, pressed aggressively and looked like a team completely aware of the magnitude of the occasion.
That sort of performance does not simply happen naturally.
The work O’Neill and his coaching staff have carried out to maintain standards during such a demanding title battle deserves huge credit. Earlier in the campaign there were moments where Celtic appeared exposed, especially following inconsistent away results and dropped points that reopened the race.
Rather than crumble under the pressure, they answered emphatically.
The mood surrounding the club now feels transformed compared to several months ago. The supporters are fully invested again, the dressing room looks united and there is suddenly a genuine belief that both the league title and Scottish Cup are within touching distance.
Inside the club, however, nobody will be getting ahead of themselves just yet.
Fir Park represents the next challenge and it is rarely an easy place to go, particularly with the title race entering such a tense stage. Motherwell will look to make life difficult and continue playing with freedom and attacking intent. Celtic will require the same discipline, focus and intensity they showed against Rangers.
O’Neill has experienced enough title run-ins throughout his career to understand exactly how dangerous the closing weeks of a campaign can become.
Based on Trusty’s remarks, it sounds like his message inside the dressing room will remain exactly the same.
Nafisa
