O'Neill on Champions League failure, Europa draw & signings

Martin O'Neill has been speaking to the media before Celtic host Falkirk in the Premiership on Saturday. Here are the key points from the media conference: O'Neill says Celtic's Europa League draw is "really tough" and "something to look forward to" but admits "I still haven't got over" the Champions League play-off exit to LASK. He hopes the Champions League exit will not impact on the club adding new signings: "I think we're still trying to get some players in. We would need a few in, obviously, to supplement the squad." But O'Neill admits Celtic may now miss out on some targets because the Champions League is a "big carrot, particularly for a lot of young players". He insists Celtic should have been "out of sight by half-time" of Tuesday night's 5-1 defeat in Austria. O'Neill is "obviously disappointed with myself" and, when asked what he could have done better, says: "I have to really analyse it again. The period of the game just after half-time when they've scored, 2-1, the momentum's with them. What can you do to stop that momentum?" The management and players have discussed the LASK defeat and while they can't "push it to the side", O'Neill stressed the need to "recover quickly" and focus on upcoming challenges. On fan discontent over the Champions League failure, O'Neill says Celtic are "always one game away from a crisis" and the players need to show "a lot of character" against Falkirk. Callum McGregor missed training on Friday with a stomach bug, but O'Neill hopes the captain will be available on Saturday. He adds: "We've got a couple of boys with a few knocks and things, but it's as much psychological as physical for us to get through."