Interim manager Martin O’Neill still expects to be at Celtic on a short-term basis but would be open to talks over an extended stay after leading the holders to the Scottish League Cup final.
O’Neill and Shaun Maloney enjoyed a 3-1 extra-time win over 10-man Rangers at Hampden Park, following up the midweek victory over Falkirk after being installed as Brendan Rodgers’ temporary successors.
Extra-time goals from Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand saw Celtic set up a final against St Mirren on December 14.
Callum McGregor put Celtic ahead in extra time
When asked if he could still be in charge then, O’Neill said: “I have had no indication, genuinely no indication whatsoever at this minute. None at all.
“And I would have thought that with Midtjylland now Thursday night [Europa League] and then Kilmarnock on the Sunday, I would have thought there’s probably time for them, with an international break, for the board to think about something.”
When asked if he would like to lead Celtic again at Hampden next month, the 73-year-old said: “Well, secretly, you would love to.
“Look, we’re in the results business and all of these things can change. I was actually at Midtjylland’s game against Nottingham Forest, where they were just too strong for them, really, and that was at the City Ground. And then we’ve got the Kilmarnock game on the Sunday.
“So, honestly, these games, it’s all about results and that will determine whether the board might think about taking their time. If we’d got beaten today, I might not even have seen Thursday.”
Martin O’Neill won his first Old Firm game in charge of Celtic in over 20 years
When asked if he would be open to discussions with principal shareholder Dermot Desmond, who offered him the interim role on Monday, O’Neill said: “The very obvious answer would be yes, I would do. But I genuinely don’t know what to expect.
“When I saw the games they had and then the international break, I thought they’ll have a couple of weeks to think about it.
“I haven’t even spoken to him since that. In a perverse sort of way I’ve enjoyed the two games – but not a lot.
Callum Osmand scored Celtic’s third in the win over Rangers
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted to have won the game, absolutely delighted. It was a really strange feeling to be in the Hampden dressing room, really strange, but it was nice to win.
“If it had been the other way around it would have been a real sickener.”
When asked if he would be open to staying on a permanent basis, the former Republic of Ireland boss said: “Well, I don’t think there’ll be that conversation. I genuinely don’t think that would be the case.
“I’ve come in, deep down, I probably have enjoyed it a bit better than I’m saying to you, but not a lot. So, it was really strange.
“I’ve had enormous help from my backroom staff, (Shaun) Maloney and Mark Fotheringham and Stephen (McManus). All three that I managed at one stage or another. Gosh almighty, now they’re standing beside me in the coaching ranks.
“So, yeah, it was lovely. It’s a great feeling in the dressing room when you’ve won a game like that.”
Ralston praises ‘great’ O’Neill
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Celtic defender Anthony Ralston gives his reaction after Thelo Aaasgaard’s red-card tackle on him
Celtic defender Anthony Ralston has praised O’Neill’s impact and has been impressed by the Northern Irishman in his short time back in the hot seat.
The Scotland defender said: “He’s been around this fixture many times, and it was great to have his knowledge, along with the other coaching staff as well, who’ve also been around the fixture.
“And it helps as well that there was a good few boys within the dressing room and on the pitch that have also had a lot of experiencing this fixture as well.
“So we were very calm, we were focussed, we knew the job that we had to do and I felt that to a man, we delivered today, which was great.
“He (O’Neill) is great, he’s funny.
“He’s let us know he’s been around the game for a long time in a humorous away and he’s been great to just give us that experience in that confidence to go out and play our football and to have belief.
“And I think you can see that with the performances.”
Meanwhile, Ralston believed Thelo Aaasgaard took a gamble and lost with the tackle that brought the Rangers midfielder a red card in Celtic’s win over their Old Firm rivals.
He said: “You run the risk when you go in high and you’re going in with a force.
“So the boy ran the risk and it didn’t work out for him.
“It’s one that changed the game and I felt we capitalised on it well.”
