Martin O’Neill says he quickly decided to remain Celtic manager after briefly questioning his future, insisting it would have been “poor” to leave the Scottish Premiership champions during the international break.
The 74-year-old appeared uncertain after Celtic’s 1-0 home defeat by Rangers, their final match before the break, saying he would “have a look at it” and reflect on his managerial position.
But O’Neill confirmed this week that he would continue and explained his decision at Friday’s news conference before Sunday’s Scottish Premiership trip to Motherwell, live on Sky Sports.
“It didn’t take that long in all honesty,” he said. “There was an international break. It gives you time to reflect.
“I was obviously disappointed with the week we had. There’s a long season ahead and it didn’t take me long to make my mind up to continue, as long as the club wanted me and I was happy to do it.
“Leaving at this particular stage would have been poor. Had there been no international break, I probably wouldn’t even have said what I said.”
Celtic have lost their past three matches in all competitions but remain two points clear of Rangers at the top of the Premiership.
O’Neill said his priority was to retain the title, having guided Celtic to success during two spells in charge over 23 league matches last season.
“The main driver is to try and win the league again, that’s really it,” he said. “We’ve a full season ahead, remarkably. It sounds hard to believe but we’re actually still in front in the league at this minute.
“Until Rangers beat us in the league, we had won the previous 13 games in the league. I have belief in the team and I think our focus should be to try and win the league.”
Jota, who has been out for almost 18 months with a cruciate ligament injury, could return to the squad against Motherwell. O’Neill said the winger had been training with Celtic “for some considerable time” and had played in a friendly against Falkirk.
Chelsea left-back Landon Emenalo, who joined Celtic on loan at the end of the summer transfer window, is expected to link up with the squad after recovering from injury. O’Neill hopes he will arrive on Saturday and begin training next week.
O’Neill ‘sad’ at Celtic supporter dispute
O’Neill also described the worsening relationship between Celtic and supporters as “really sad” after the Green Brigade announced it would boycott the club’s remaining home Europa League matches and all Scottish Cup ties, whether at home, away or Hampden.
The group criticised the board for what it called “naked contempt” towards supporters, after a Celtic statement about a tennis-ball protest directed at major shareholder Dermot Desmond at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews referred to the conduct of the Green Brigade.
The Green Brigade said Desmond’s influence had created “a dark cloud” over Celtic and claimed the board had wrongly linked it to the protest, although it said it commended those responsible. It warned that another ban could follow and said the boycott would be reviewed at the end of the season or sooner if sufficient progress was made.
Former striker Chris Sutton said earlier this week that Celtic were “at this moment in time… a bit of a cesspit”.
O’Neill said he disagreed with what happened at St Andrews and recalled the unity surrounding Celtic’s double-winning campaign last season.
“When the club came together, I can remember the days of having 80,000 people in Seville without an arrest,” he said. “That’s Celtic to me.
“It is a sad situation. When the club were together towards the end of the season, I genuinely felt we were unbeatable. We have to try and win some football matches maybe to get some togetherness here.”
