MARTIN O’NEILL REVEALED WHAT HE TOLD THE CELTIC PLAYERS BEFORE THEIR STUNNING 4–0 VICTORY.

THE LEGENDARY MANAGER OPENED UP ON HIS PRE-MATCH MESSAGE THAT INSPIRED A PERFECT HOMECOMING PERFORMANCE AT PARKHEAD.

Martin O’Neill’s emotional return to the Celtic dugout turned into a dream night as the Hoops stormed to a 4–0 win over Falkirk at Parkhead. The 73-year-old, stepping in as interim manager alongside former player Shaun Maloney after Brendan Rodgers’ surprise resignation, delivered a powerful message to his players before kick-off and it clearly hit the right note.

Celtic looked reborn under O’Neill, playing with freedom, hunger, and conviction that had been missing in recent weeks. From the first whistle, there was energy in every pass, drive, and press the kind of intensity fans at Parkhead had longed to see.

Irish striker Johnny Kenny, handed a start by O’Neill, repaid the faith in style, striking twice in the first half to set Celtic on their way. Midfielder Benjamin Nygren and wide-man Sebastian Tounekti added goals after the break, sealing a dominant victory that lifted the Hoops within six points of league leaders Hearts.

After the match, O’Neill opened up about his emotions before the game — and what he told the players in the dressing room that sparked such a commanding performance.

> “I was nervous, really nervous,” O’Neill admitted. “I said to the players before the game that they have more quality than they think, that sometimes football can be cruel when you’re not getting the results you deserve. I just asked them to go out, trust themselves, and play with pride.”

It was a message that resonated deeply. O’Neill’s words brought calmness and confidence to a group shaken by recent turmoil. His familiar presence and straightforward belief appeared to unlock the spirit that had gone missing under Brendan Rodgers’ final weeks in charge.

> “When you’ve been around football long enough, you know confidence can dip quickly,” he continued. “It happens to the very best teams. But what matters is how you respond — and tonight, I thought they were magnificent.”

The Celtic faithful, too, played their part in a night that felt like a throwback to O’Neill’s glory days in charge between 2000 and 2005. Every goal was met with a roar that echoed around Parkhead, and the crowd’s energy seemed to feed directly into the team’s performance.

Captain Callum McGregor, who led by example in midfield, was among the first to credit O’Neill’s influence after the match.

He’s got that aura,” McGregor said. “When he talks, you listen. He reminded us of what it means to wear this shirt, and everyone out there felt it tonight.”

For O’Neill, it wasn’t just about tactics or systems — it was about restoring belief.

“There’s something special about this club,” he said. “It’s about character, heart, and the will to win. That’s what we wanted to show tonight, and I think we did.”

Falkirk boss John McGlynn was gracious in defeat, acknowledging Celtic’s superiority.

“Celtic were just too good,” he admitted. “We stayed in the game for half an hour, but once they got going, there was no stopping them. That’s what happens when you face players of that quality.”

The result may not have changed the league table drastically, but it shifted the mood around Parkhead entirely. From the uncertainty and frustration following Rodgers’ exit, Celtic now seem revitalized driven by the passion and pride of one of their greatest modern managers.

As O’Neill walked down the tunnel at full-time, the fans chanted his name once more a familiar sound that filled the night with nostalgia. It wasn’t just a win; it was a statement.

A statement that Celtic, under Martin O’Neill’s guiding voice once again, are ready to fight, believe, and rise.