Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill is brimming with confidence ahead of Wednesday's pivotal Scottish Premiership clash against Motherwell at Fir Park, following Sunday's exhilarating victory over Rangers. That win, he says, has injected a "big boost of confidence" into the squad, but he's quick to temper expectations: "The derby joy really has gone now," O'Neill cautioned. "We face a major task on Wednesday."

With the title race heating up, O'Neill laid out the stakes: "If we win our two games—easier said than done—we win the league. A few months ago, you'd have gotten long odds on that. So from that viewpoint, we have to try to win, and it won't be easy." The team's recent surge, he believes, is fueled by "some players who are playing in really good form," and he's noticed a growing bond between the squad and the fans. "Celtic Park on Sunday was reminiscent of my old days," he added. "That's been great. But we've also won some big matches away from home."

O'Neill praised his side's "resilience" and "character" after stringing together six consecutive wins following a tough defeat at Dundee United. "If someone had offered me our current position after that loss at Tannadice, I would have accepted that," he admitted. Looking ahead to the Motherwell challenge, he tipped his cap to opposing manager Jens Berthel Askou, who's been linked with the Celtic job this summer. "I think he's done really well, really well. He deserves a lot of applause," O'Neill said. "They play a really nice brand of football and still want to qualify for Europe. But essentially, they're not playing under that sort of pressure at Motherwell. You can play, lose some matches, and still have a really good season. It doesn't happen at this club."

As for where a potential league and cup double would rank among his achievements, O'Neill reflected on the journey: "For the number of games we've played or will play, when Shaun [Maloney], Mark [Fotheringham], and myself got to..." The message is clear: Celtic are clicking at the perfect moment, and with fan unity at an all-time high, the stage is set for a thrilling finish.