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Celtic produced the perfect response to their Benfica humiliation as Martin O’Neill watched his side tear Hearts apart in a stunning 7-1 victory at Celtic Park.
The Hoops were ruthless in attack, with Callum Osmand and Benjamin Nygren both scoring twice in a remarkable performance against the Edinburgh side.
O’Neill faced the media after the final whistle, with plenty to discuss following Celtic’s emphatic hammering of Hearts.
O’Neill told BBC Sportsound: “I thought he was really really good, played very, very strongly. That’s not really his position at the end of it all, although he adapted brilliantly.
“And he’s a goal scorer and has a goal scoring instinct as well. To even the goal that he’s headed into the net, he’s followed that in. That’s what natural goal scorers do.
“He was feeling his hamstring at half time. I’m not surprised. He wanted to continue but I thought, no. Listen, he had a big hamstring problem the last time. Way back, he was out for a number of months, and he was just feeling it himself.
“I’m not wasn’t surprised because he’s played very very little football. Really pleased for him. I thought he did great.”
Martin O’Neill will be delighted with Celtic’s attacking display, but Thursday night’s Europa League clash against Celta Vigo will be a far tougher examination.
The movement, quick passing and clinical finishing that destroyed Hearts must be carried into Europe. Camilo Duran was outstanding, while Kieran Tierney and Benjamin Nygren showed how dangerous Celtic can be going forward.
However, after conceding four against Benfica and another against Hearts, O’Neill must get his defence organised. Celtic cannot afford another European collapse, regardless of how impressive they look in attack.