Darren O’Dea is determined to carry the feel-good factor of beating Rangers into tomorrow’s final SPL match away to Hearts.
Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Rangers has lifted some of the clouds that have been hanging over Parkhead after a trophyless season that led to Tony Mowbray’s sacking.
After experiencing mixed fortunes on-loan at Reading in the first half of the season O’Dea has played in Celtic’s last twelve matches and is looking to finish a troubled season on a high.
He said: “The team has confidence from winning on Tuesday and we’ll carry that into the Hearts match. Tynecastle is a tough ground, you never go there and get an easy game.
“There will be a good atmosphere, it’s a tough place and we’ll know exactly what we’re going into. Hopefully we can finish with eight wins in a row and that will set us up for next season.
“We’re expecting to win the league back next season, that’s what everyone at the club deserves.”
Winning the Old Firm match against Rangers has given added momentum to the campaign to get Neil Lennon installed as permanent manager.
The former Celtic skipper has transformed the atmosphere around the club and has the 100% backing of the dressing room.
Lennon’s first move as caretaker manager was to bring in Johan Mjallby as his assistant with the Swede making a big impression on the players.
Lennon and Mjallby enjoyed great success playing together under Martin O’Neill with O’Dea delighted to be benefiting from that experience.
The defender told channel 67 : “The whole club has been lifted since Johan and Lenny came in.
“We’re only a confident team because we’ve been winning games, we had won six on the bounce in the league before the Rangers match. Lenny and Johan can take as much credit as anyone for winning those games.
“They have both been involved in more Old Firm games than anyone in the dressing room, they know exactly what it’s about and what you need to do.
“To win any Old Firm game is very satisfying but with the way that our season has gone that one was of massive importance to the club as a whole.
“It was immensely satisfying, we had more than a point to prove, we’re fighting for futures at the club.
“We’ve not won any trophies this season, that’s not been good enough and the players are fighting for their futures.
“The hunger, commitment and passion of the team showed that we’re fighting for our lives. It was a great game to win.”
Playing against Rangers is what defines players at Celtic with O’Dea finding an extra edge in the fixture.
Celtic players have been accused of being bullied out of this season’s derby matches but that wasn’t the case of Tuesday.
O’Dea picked up a last minute booking in the follow-up to Lee McCulloch’s red card and admits that games against Rangers are that bit special for him.
He added: “I maybe get a little bit aggressive at times but that’s just part of the game, the atmosphere and occasion are different. I’ve known about this game since I was able to kick a ball and know what it means to everyone and it means just as much to me.
“Growing up as a kid I watched them wishing that I was involved. In my opinion they are probably the best game in the world to be involved in, as a derby they are the biggest because of what they mean to everyone.
“It’s fantastic to be involved but it’s the worst game to lose- I know that and have felt it, during the game I’ll do anything that I can to win.
“Sometimes things boil over a little bit but the game was fairly played and great to come out on top.
“Winning is everything, when you’re winning you’re hoping that the game ends because you want to win so much. It felt like Celtic Park again on Tuesday and that made a massive difference.”
Interview from channel 67