O'Neill calls for show of character after Euro calamity
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has demanded his team show 'character' following a disappointing exit from the Champions League. The 74-year-old manager acknowledged the pressure from fans and the difficulty of bouncing back after losing a significant lead.
Why it matters
It reflects the high-stakes nature of professional sports management and the intense scrutiny faced by clubs after failing to meet performance expectations.
Martin O'Neill has challenged his side to show traditional Celtic "character" against Falkirk in the wake of their shambolic Champions League exit.
The play-off capitulation against LASK in Linz - where Celtic had a four-goal cushion after half an hour - has fans in uproar before the return of domestic action on Saturday.
"I've known this from my time at this football club, you're always one game away from a crisis, and that's the case," said 74-year-old manager O'Neill.
"It's a major disappointment to get knocked out of the competition, particularly carrying a lead and certainly with 60 minutes to go and we are looking in real control of the game.
"They've had a couple of skirmishes but we have had the better chances in the game. And to let it slip in the manner in which we did, that is my responsibility.
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