Skipper Steven got me through bleakest times
Michael O’Neill has revealed a heart to heart with Rangers star Steven Davis at his darkest point as a manager persuaded him to stay on as Northern Ireland boss.
O’Neill and his international skipper have a strong bond and the former Hibs and Dundee United star believes Davis will be a key player in today’s Old Firm derby.
They have enjoyed success together with Northern Ireland but things could have been different had Davis not backed O’Neill after a humiliating 3-2 defeat at Luxembourg in a World Cup qualifier six years ago.
O’Neill went on to lead the Irish to Euro 2016 but he recalled: “It was a challenging time. There was a lot of pain and Luxembourg was probably the most painful.
“It was dark and there were days where you think, ‘How do I turn this around?’
“If the IFA had asked me to step aside at that time they would have been well within their rights to do so.
“Our preparation for games was good but I needed to know if there was anything we could do better. I had conversations with Steven (Davis) at length about this.
“He actually said to me, ‘No, we need to do better because the preparation is as good as it’s ever been.’
“So that gives you some level of belief.
“If the senior players hadn’t wanted me to stay on I wouldn’t have stayed on and I wouldn’t have been the manager. I had that discussion with Steven at the time and it ’s important you have that relationship with your captain.”
Davis was O’Neill’s most important player then and that remains the case now.
He is also vital to Rangers and O’Neill claims Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard has been intelligent in his use of the 34-year-old this season.
He said: “Gerrard is using him extremely well. He has been very clever with how he has used Steven and he has done that well with his team too.
“When the big games come along you expect Davo to start.
“What Steven has done at the start of this season is no surprise to me at all. He is still a top player.
“I don’t see any physical issues and he can still get around the pitch. His role in the team has changed but he still has the ability to press which he does extremely well.
“He has a good choice of pass and plays the game very simply. He keeps things ticking over.
“He is playing in a good Rangers team and a midfield. They have a lot of good options in there and he is the one that is the most experienced.
“Steven is a quiet leader on the pitch.
“He leads by taking the ball and getting people around him playing. That’s what he does for Rangers.”