Learn Eur lesson like we did Ange
O’Neill tells manager to use debut disasters to turn squad into continental contenders
GETTING frozen out of Europe in the Arctic Circle might have been a chilling experience for Celtic – but Martin O’Neill reckons those painful lessons might be the perfect warm-up for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
The former Parkhead gaffer knows that it can be simply trial and error when competing on the continent.
O’Neill had to contend with a fair amount of both before he turned his side into a major force in Europe.
And reckons it could be the same with Postecoglou in the coming campaign.
O’Neill hoovered up a Treble in his first campaign in charge of Celts – as he mischievously reminded double winner Postecoglou when they met up last week – but there was disappointment in the UEFA Cup when the bold Bordeaux bounced his men out in the second round.
The following season Celts saw off Ajax in an epic play-off to reach the Champions League for the first time and it turned in to a thrill ride.
Memorable wins against Juventus, Porto and Rosenborg at home weren’t quite matched on the road, but the lessons learned were put to good use 12 months later when the Hoops marched all the way to the UEFA Cup Final.
O’Neill reckons that Postecoglou’s notepad will be full from this season, where the Champions League qualifiers arrived before he had his feet under the desk and the Europa League group stage was a brutal draw and rollercoaster ride.
Talk of winning the Europa Conference League looked cheap when Norwegian shock troops Bodo/ Glimt ran amok over two legs. But O’Neill is convinced all of the trials and tribulations will be put to good use when Celtic hit the Champions League group stages in the coming months. He said: “Ange’s experience last season will be great and maybe even being knocked out by Bodo/Glimt was also a good thing for him because it meant that Rangers were playing a lot more games than they were.
“That happened in 2003. We played 60 games to Rangers’ 50 and lost the UEFA Cup Final to Porto while they won the domestic treble. Even then, we only lost the league by one goal.
“But Ange has now had a wee bit of European experience and now he’s into the real thing. All the signs are decent that they should finally make some progress in Europe.”
It was certainly the case for O’Neill – even if he would not admit it at the time.
He said: “We had some decent players and I never wanted to throw in that excuse about us being novices in Europe as that permeates to the team and the next thing you know there’s a readymade excuse because players think ‘Well, the manager doesn’t think we can...’
“We were novices and naive in many aspects, particularly formations. I remember against Porto – not Jose Mourinho’s Porto – there was a spell where they gave us a really torrid time until we made some changes, so you’re learning all the time.
“We ended up getting nine points and still not qualifying but it was difficult and you pick up things as you go along. Beating Ajax in the play-off was a major confidence booster.”
Postecoglou won’t change his exciting style – but Brendan Rodgers had big ideas of going toe-to-toe with Barcelona and PSG and his Celtic ended up on the end of cricket scores.
O’Neill said: “Now he has this attacking, and I hate the word, ‘philosophy’ going then the last thing you want is to lose that but you also need pragmatism.
“The Champions League is something else but Ange’s experiences this year are going to stand him in good stead. He’ll relish the challenges now he’s got something under his belt.”