Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has delivered a stark message following his side's emphatic 4-0 victory over Dundee United, insisting the result does nothing to alleviate the club's urgent need for new signings.
Goals Galore But Concerns Remain
The Northern Irishman's third spell in charge of the Scottish champions began in spectacular fashion at Parkhead, with goals from Yang Hyun-jun, Arne Engels, substitute Benjamin Nygren, and Daizen Maeda securing a comprehensive win. The result moved Celtic to within three points of league leaders Hearts, albeit having played one game more.
Despite the flying start, O'Neill was quick to temper any celebration, reiterating his call for the club to strengthen the squad immediately. 'It's not changed to me. Not at all,' he stated firmly. 'We need some people in.'
Transfer Talks and Maeda's Future
O'Neill confirmed that Celtic are actively working on transfers, with a centre-forward understood to be the priority. The club is known to be negotiating for Ivorian winger Jocelin Ta Bi, valued at around £2 million, from Israeli side Maccabi Netanya.
In a significant development, the manager also revealed he plans to hold talks with Japanese forward Daizen Maeda in the coming week. Maeda, who saw a summer move to German club Wolfsburg collapse, scored the fourth goal before being substituted. 'I would hope that he'd stay at the football club,' O'Neill said, while expressing caution about the situation.
'I'm fearful of saying something to you here and finding out maybe three days later something else has happened. But no, I wouldn't want to lose him,' he added.
Araujo's Debut and Goodwin's VAR Grievance
The match also saw the debut of loan signing Julian Araujo, though the Mexican right-back's introduction was marred by a late first-half tackle on Dundee United's Will Ferry. Araujo received only a yellow card, a decision that left visiting manager Jim Goodwin frustrated with VAR official Andrew Dallas.
'For me, it was kind of a dangerous tackle if I'm being honest,' Goodwin argued. 'He looked as if he was a little bit out of control... Will is feeling the effects of that after the game.'
O'Neill acknowledged Araujo needed to learn from the incident, saying, 'He’s got to learn. I get concerned when someone stays down.'
Warning Against Complacency
Looking ahead, O'Neill warned his players not to get carried away by the big win, predicting more turmoil before the season's end. 'There'll be plenty more turmoil between now and the end of the season,' he smiled. 'Don't get carried away.'
He also joked about his muted touchline demeanour during the goals, citing his age and a fear of embarrassing himself. On a serious note, he praised his team's performance: 'I thought we played really well. It was nice to see players performing well, playing with confidence, and it was just nice to win.'
Araujo, who joined on loan from Bournemouth just before Wilfried Nancy's sacking, expressed his relief at having O'Neill at the helm. 'He’s a legend at the club... He gives you that confidence,' the defender said, comparing O'Neill's style to that of his national team manager.
