Martin O’Neill hints at major Celtic tactical change ahead of Benfica showdown

Martin O’Neill has warned that Celtic must be prepared to change their tactical approach during matches if their original game plan fails to deliver the desired results.

The Hoops are preparing for a difficult Europa League encounter against Benfica at the Estádio da Luz on Thursday night, with O’Neill looking for ways to help his side compete against the Portuguese giants.

Before the showdown, the Celtic boss and several members of his backroom staff visited the iconic stadium where the club made history by winning the European Cup in 1967.

O’Neill was joined by Mark Fotheringham, Ross Grant, Tom Boyd, Roy Aitken, Stephen McManus and Michael McGovern during the visit. The occasion offered a reminder of the legendary night when Billy McNeill captained Celtic to a famous victory over Inter Milan on 25 May 1967.

That historic achievement remains a defining moment in the club’s identity, but Celtic must now concentrate on the challenge awaiting them in Lisbon.

The Scottish champions have endured a difficult record away to Benfica, losing all four previous visits while scoring just once. Georgios Samaras scored their only away goal against the Portuguese side during a 2-1 defeat in November 2012.

Despite that setback, Celtic eventually progressed to the Champions League last 16 that season, demonstrating that a difficult result against Benfica does not necessarily have to define their European campaign.

However, Thursday’s encounter presents another demanding test for O’Neill’s men. Benfica have been in impressive form, losing just once in their previous 14 matches and recording a 2-0 victory over AC Milan at the San Siro in their Europa League opener.

Benfica head coach Marco Silva has also warned Celtic to expect a difficult evening as the Hoops attempt to secure their first points of the league phase.

For O’Neill, tactical flexibility could prove crucial. His insistence that Celtic must be willing to change shape when their initial approach is ineffective suggests the manager wants his players to adapt quickly rather than persist with a plan that is not working.

With Benfica enjoying home advantage and boasting a strong recent record, Celtic may need more than their usual approach to produce a positive result in Lisbon.