Martin O’Neill gives honest verdict after Sporting defeat

Martin O’Neill admitted Celtic still have plenty to improve after their pre-season defeat to Sporting CP but believes the match provided exactly the type of test his squad needed ahead of the new campaign.

Camilo Duran marked his debut with his first goal for the Hoops after cancelling out Sporting’s opener, but the Portuguese side responded with three late goals to hand Celtic a convincing defeat.

Despite the scoreline, O’Neill focused on the positives and insisted the encounter was a valuable exercise for both his experienced players and emerging youngsters.

“First of all, it was a fantastic workout for us in many ways,” O’Neill told Celtic TV.

“It was an excellent test. They pulled away from us towards the end, particularly after we made a number of substitutions.

“Overall, though, I’m delighted we played the game. We were comfortably beaten in the end, but that’s what pre-season is for. Our priority is getting ready for the opening competitive match of the season.”

The Celtic manager believes the experience will benefit the club’s younger players while also highlighting important lessons for the senior members of the squad.

“It was a brilliant opportunity for the young lads to play against opposition of that quality,” he said.

“The senior players can learn from it as well. We all need to improve the basics—closing opponents down quicker, getting to the ball first and recovering our positions faster.”

One of the night’s biggest positives was the performance of summer signing Camilo Duran, who came off the bench to score after forcing a defensive mistake with his relentless pressing.

O’Neill praised the Colombian’s work ethic and compared his pressing ability to that of Daizen Maeda.

“I was really pleased with him,” he said.

“I don’t think he got much service after coming on, especially once we made several changes, but I believe he’ll be an excellent signing for us.

“We’ve often spoken about Daizen Maeda’s ability to close defenders down. Camilo has that same willingness to press, and that’s a quality we really value.”

Duran’s encouraging debut was even more impressive given he had only recently joined the squad and had missed a training session because of illness before the match.

Looking ahead, O’Neill expects another stern examination when Celtic return to Scotland to face Middlesbrough at Celtic Park.

“That’s exactly what we want,” he added.

“We’re aiming to improve with every game we play.

“The Middlesbrough match will provide another tough test, and it’s another opportunity for us to keep progressing.”

Although the defeat highlighted areas that still require attention, O’Neill remains focused on building fitness, correcting mistakes and ensuring Celtic are fully prepared for the start of the competitive season.