Celtic created five great chances and hit the woodwork three times – Martin O’Neill

Martin O'Neill remained optimistic following Celtic's 4-1 defeat to Benfica in Lisbon last night. Despite the loss, the Celtic manager praised his team's second-half performance, believing they showed excellent character and created five great chances, including three hits on the woodwork.

O'Neill also highlighted the strong impact of the substitutions, particularly Haissem Hassan and Callum Osmand, who came on from the bench and impressed, despite not being in the squad just a week ago. The manager noted that the young player had been injured but felt Osmand's performance warranted a place in the starting lineup.

The manager acknowledged Benfica's attacking prowess and suggested that Celtic's defensive lapses gave the Portuguese side opportunities to cut through. However, he emphasized that Celtic's loss in the first half might have been due to a lack of focus on defending spaces and players adequately.

O'Neill expressed confidence in his team's ability to secure points in the remaining six Europa League matches, stating that he genuinely believes they can achieve their desired results. He also discussed the importance of Camilo Duran's performance in the middle of the park, suggesting that Osmand's best position is there, and the team should focus on integrating him effectively.

When asked about the club's declining European fortunes, O'Neill attributed the decline to a combination of factors, but he did not single out any specific reason. He expressed determination to turn the tide and bring success to Celtic in the upcoming matches.