The boss handed over his media duties to Shaun Maloney in the midst of signing season
Martin O'Neill during a Celtic training session at the Lennoxtown
Martin O'Neill during a Celtic training session at the Lennoxtown (Image: SNS Group)
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Shaun Maloney stepping in to handle pre-match media duties was understandable in the circumstances.
Martin O’Neill had enough on his plate forming a one-man welcoming committee to the battalion of new signings walking through the door.
The boss shook so many fresh hands yesterday he might spotted in the dugout tonight wearing a sling.
Oliver Sorensen, Joel van den Berg and Sam Johnstone all pitched up to complete deals as the Lennoxtown reception area resembled Glasgow Airport during Fair Fortnight.
Others were on the way too, with Chelsea kid Shim Mheuka on his way and potentially a couple of others, with deals for Gvidas Gineitis and a left back in the pipeline.
The flurry of activity has been welcomed by supporters.
But it’s also left a nagging feeling the Lennoxtown door has been shut after the horse has bolted over the hill.
Celtic could be looking at adding five or six new players before tonight’s European deadline and it’s left plenty wondering - yet again – why they have left it so late.
Wouldn’t these guys have been handy BEFORE the humiliating Champions League collapse against LASK?
O’Neill himself didn’t argue when asked similar before the supermarket sweep and Maloney admitted the coaching staff would have preferred to have more time getting the new recruits bedded in.
But now they are on the way the no.2 is determined to make the most of the shiny new toys coming his way.
Maloney said: “As a coach you want them in as early as possible. The last time I sat here I think we’d had about 40 sessions before Haissem Hassan, Kasper Hogh and Mika Baur were in.
“So, yeah, you want them as soon as you can. But sitting here now, it’s the reality of being a manager or assistant, you have to adapt to how the window plays out.
“You can understand that (fans’ frustration). From a coach's point of view you want them as early as possible.
“I’ve been in a first team environment for eight or nine years and you understand it’s not a perfect scenario.
“You have to adapt to basically how the window plays out. We’d love them as soon as possible but from a coaching point of view it’s about being as positive as possible, helping them integrate as soon as we can and improving the team’s performance.
“I think we’ve looked good from an attacking point of view. In the big pressure moments we can be better with the ball.”
Shaun Maloney(Image: SNS Group)
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Celtic’s fleet of new players will have to find their feet quickly with the Hoops heading into a hectic period with games coming thick and fast in the Premiership, Premier Sports Cup and Europa League.
But Maloney is convinced the arrivals have the profiles to perfectly slot in to the way O’Neill and his coaching team want to play – and cope with performing in the Parkhead pressure cooker.
He said: “The identity of the club is about attacking, playing under pressure, whether teams are pressing or playing man to man.
“Without the ball we also have to be who we are, really aggressive,
difficult to play against.
“These are things that have been in place at this club for a good few years.
“It’s under the biggest stress in the biggest games, you have to commit to it.
“I think back to the Rangers game where we were 2-0 down and probably fortunate it was only 2-0.
“Ibrox was rocking and they could have scored a third.
“The performance in the second half showed what I am talking about. If we can play under the biggest pressure then we have a chance.”
Celtic buckled under the pressure in Austria last week, mind you, and Maloney had to help pick up the pieces.
The crushing disappointment of missing out on the Champions League after being given four goals of a start by LASK was never something anyone at the club was going to shrug off easily.
But Celts got back on the horse with the weekend win against Falkirk and are looking to maintain the winning start to the domestic campaign in tonight’s clash with Aberdeen.
Maloney said: “The first couple of days were difficult. It was low.
“It wasn’t just the players, everyone associated with the club felt that disappointment.
“In the Falkirk game there was a lot of good, but we also allowed Falkirk more of the ball in certain areas than we would have liked.
“That’s where we have to demand more.
“I also understand the emotions side of those three days and the massive disappointment.
“We had to win that Falkirk game and the last couple of days have been easier to focus on what we need to do on the back of a win.
“I respected the response to the fans in that game but we have to keep improving.
“We have got really good players – and we have to demand more from them.”
Aberdeen have issues of their own but Maloney is not expecting a breeze.
He said: “They are definitely different to Stephen's St Mirren side. We will prepare for them being a back four and a back five. They have predominantly been a four this season.
“They have a big threat in the final third. I know Kevin Nesbit as striker is in brilliant form. I think it will be a tough game.
“We have looked really good attacking. As a team and as a group, I think we can definitely tighten up without the ball. We have to be more aggressive.
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“I think at times we look really good attacking, but I think we want more without the ball, as everyone. If we do get that, I think we are a decent side.”