O'Neill on Duran, Ibrox 'eye-opener' and finding ways to win
· Yahoo Sports
Manager Martin O'Neill has been speaking to the media before Celtic's opening Europa League match at home to Ferencvaros on Thursday (20:00 BST)
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Here are the key points:
- O'Neill confirmed forward Camilo Duran is fit and available having missed training on Wednesday after travelling to London for a visa in relation to a Colombia call-up.
- The Northern Irishman insists Celtic are looking to "get off to a decent start" in the Europa League and he may have to make changes to the side given the demands of this week, facing Rangers twice either side of this fixture amid a run of "seven games in 22 days".
- O'Neill conceded the players are hurting after exiting the League Cup at Ibrox last Sunday. He adds: "We disappointed ourselves, we disappointed our fans and we just have to rise to the occasion. Defeat should hurt. We've done it before. We'll get ourselves right."
- He says the 3-0 derby defeat was an "eye-opener" for some of Celtic's new signings, adding: "You've got to find out about players, whether they're capable of dealing with these games. Hopefully, they will be."
- The manager pointed to last season when Celtic found a way to win games "when the odds were piled against us" to earn the title as inspiration for the immediate challenges ahead. "The season will be tough, tomorrow will be tough. It's up to us to finds ways to win football matches regardless of who plays," he says.
- When questioned on how to best use Duran given how he has performed as a central striker, O'Neill explained: "He has played in a number of positions for us. I think his best position is either centre forward himself or just off the centre forward. So it's up to us now to develop ways to get the very best out of him."
- On the size of challenge against Ferencvaros: "They will be tough. They have three lads who are exceptional players and will cause us lots of problems."
- O'Neill is "delighted" for 20-year-old Celtic right-back Colby Donovan to have earned a "deserved" first Scotland call-up.