Julian Araujo scored a dramatic winning goal in stoppage time as Celtic picked up a massive three points with a 3-2 win over Kilmarnock in the Premiership title race, but Martin O’Neill revealed a worrying injury in the post-match press conference.
O’Neill says Celtic’s win over Killie is ‘not good for your health’
O’Neill praised his side’s character but said standards needed to improve following Sunday’s dramatic come-from-behind victory at Rugby Park.
After scoring last-minute winning goals in their last two games against Dundee and Livingston, the game was delayed again as Araujo fired home to send the away end into a frenzy and keep the Hoops within three points of the leaders.
O’Neill, who is celebrating his 300th game as Celtic manager, likened the Celtic team’s determination to that of previous Hoops teams, but admitted he was tired of seeing his team leave so late.
“Twenty-odd years ago, I led a really great team that had a lot of spirit and a lot of determination and always saw it to the end.
“This team has a lot of character and despite a poor first half against a strong Kilmarnock side, they showed great character. We were 2-0 down at half-time but never gave up.
“You can throw all the usual praise at us, but the players today deserved it because even at half-time, when we were so behind, there was still a feeling that if we could get a goal relatively early in the second half, we could turn things around. And that’s what happened.”
“Obviously it’s incredibly satisfying to win and it was great to win the way we did at the end. But if that’s how you have to win games, if you have to win like that, you can’t keep doing it.
“It worries me and, well, it’s not good for my health. It’s really tiring, to be honest. Some of these young guys, my coaching staff, when I look around, they’re much younger than me, so I think they can carry the burden, but not for me.”
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The manager also confirmed the worrying injury news regarding one of his top players…
Arne Engels to be out for up to two months with thigh injury
Arne Engels limped off against Livingston in midweek and O’Neill admitted after the win over Killie that the midfielder faces around six weeks out.
“It’s his thigh and it’s a big loss for us, definitely,” the Northern Irishman said.
Games that Engels may miss | competition |
|---|---|
Stuttgart (H) | europe league |
Hibernian(H) | premiership |
Stuttgart (A) | europe league |
Rangers (A) | premiership |
Aberdeen (A) | premiership |
Rangers (A) | scotland cup |
Motherwell (H) | premiership |
Dundee United (A) | premiership |
Engels has attracted strong interest from Premier League side Nottingham Forest and has made a huge impact for the Hoops this season, scoring five goals and providing five assists in all competitions.
O’Neill joked he would only sell the Belgian for £100m when Forest tabled a £25m bid in January, but he will now have to make do without the playmaker for nearly two months.
