Martin O’Neill is aiming to win his fourth Scottish top-flight title as Celtic manager. The interim manager believes Celtic would have to pull off “a difficult comeback” to win the Scottish Premiership if they drop any more points, but says it would be “not impossible”.
The defending champions are third with seven fixtures remaining. They sit two points behind Rangers and five adrift of leaders Hearts.
O’Neill’s Belief in the Team
“We have the belief,” said O’Neill before Sunday’s visit to Dundee. “Do I have the belief in the team? Absolutely. The team have belief in themselves as well.”
O’Neill acknowledged the consequences of dropping points. “If we started to drop a lot of points there, either two in a draw or a defeat, I think, with the games running out, that would be a difficult comeback – not impossible.”
The Challenge of Dens Park
Celtic have yet to pick up a league point in Dundee this season. They lost at Dens Park in October for the first time since 1988. Dundee United also beat them at Tannadice last time out.
That took the champions’ total of league defeats to eight, double last term’s total and five more than the campaign before.
Psychological Factors in the Title Race
O’Neill discussed the psychological impact of playing before rivals. “Psychologically, there’s an advantage to playing early if you go and get your results,” O’Neill said. “If you don’t, it opens the way for you.”
He also suggested a potential shift in momentum. “I’m hoping that between now and the end of the season, it might work in reverse. You just have to try and take care of your own game that you are supposedly in control of.”
Injury Updates on Araujo and Engels
O’Neill gave an update on injured players Arne Engels and Julian Araujo. “It’s a thigh,” O’Neill said of right-back Araujo, who has returned to parent club Bournemouth for treatment. “He’s doing fine in recovery, now. We expect to see him back, hopefully in the not too distant future.”
Regarding Engels, O’Neill stated: “Arne’s come back now. We’ll see. Each day it’s a good day for him, he’s trained most of the week. We’ll just keep any eye on things at this minute. We couldn’t rule him out or in for Sunday.”
By the time Celtic kick off, Rangers will have hosted Dundee United and Hearts will have played their game away to Livingston earlier on Sunday.