O'Neill: Old Firm without Away Fans Feels Strange
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill says the Old Firm will feel "strange" without away supporters as his side head into a hostile Ibrox for Sunday’s Scottish League Cup quarter-final against Rangers.
The decision to lock out visiting fans from all Old Firm fixtures this season followed talks between both clubs and the SPFL, coming on the back of a Scottish FA independent review into post-match crowd disorder during last season’s Scottish Cup clash. The same arrangement will be in place next weekend when Rangers travel to Celtic Park for the first league meeting of the campaign.
O'Neill: Old Firm without away fans "strange"
O'Neill made no attempt to hide his disappointment at the prospect of walking into Ibrox without a pocket of green and white in the corner.
"I think that it will be strange in many aspects not to have any away fans in our area. I always felt that they gave us a crumb of comfort," he said.
He knows exactly what awaits instead: a wall of blue noise.
"I think the crowd will obviously be right behind their team, and I would expect that to be reciprocated the following Sunday. We know we are up against a very fine side and a crowd who can make a difference.
If we can get in front in the game, that will make the crowd anxious.
That, for O’Neill, is the challenge and the opportunity. Silence Ibrox, and the tie changes shape.
Rotation, risk and a star on the bench
The Celtic manager has already started juggling his resources. In the 1-0 win over St Johnstone, he rested several key players and left star man Camilo Durán on the bench.
"He has been so brilliant for us," O’Neill admitted. "I thought that we could rest him for the game, then I was not sure that we could. I'm not sure that we're good enough to rest people in that sense.
Over the course of time we will have to make changes, particularly since we're playing European games.
It was a revealing line. O’Neill wants to rotate, but he knows every tweak carries a risk when trophies and momentum are on the line.
There was better news on the fitness front. Midfielder Mika Baur is back in full training after a minor knock, adding another option in the middle of the park for a tie that will be fought fiercely in that area.
Goalkeeping call looms large
One of O’Neill’s biggest decisions is in goal. New signing Sam Johnstone has arrived to push Viljami Sinisalo, and the manager now has a genuine dilemma for Ibrox.
"I haven't made my mind up at all," he said. "I thought Sam did very well, and we needed to get a look at what he could do. It's great to have the two of them. Sinisalo has done exceptionally well for us."
No clues, no hints. Just a straight shoot-out for the gloves before the real shoot-out might arrive.
Ready for penalties in the cauldron
The League Cup quarter-final must produce a winner. If the sides cannot be separated, it goes to penalties, and O’Neill is determined his players will not be caught cold in the most pressurised moments.
"We cannot replicate the stadium and the crowd, but if you've not practiced, it can be a double whammy for you. You might as well have a few shots and that's what we do at the end of our training sessions."
They can’t bottle the Ibrox roar in training. They can at least rehearse the walk from the halfway line.
No away fans. A raging home crowd. Knockout football. For O’Neill and Celtic, the question is simple: can they turn the silence in their corner into tension in every other seat?
