Celtic defender Auston Trusty has lifted the lid on the powerful dressing room message delivered by Martin O’Neill before the Hoops tore Rangers apart in a massive 3-1 Glasgow Derby victory at Celtic Park.
The American international was one of Celtic’s standout performers during a dominant afternoon for Brendan Rodgers’ side, helping the champions move another huge step closer to retaining the Scottish Premiership title. With only two league matches remaining, the Hoops now know that victories against Motherwell and Hearts would officially secure another title triumph and continue their domestic dominance.
But while the scoreline and celebrations grabbed most of the attention after the match, Trusty’s comments about the atmosphere inside the dressing room before kick-off have now become a major talking point among supporters.
According to the defender, Martin O’Neill delivered a message that immediately set the tone for Celtic’s mentality heading into the derby.
Speaking after the game, Trusty explained that O’Neill’s style behind the scenes is calm but incredibly intense at the same time, with the former Celtic boss making sure every player fully understands what is expected of them before stepping onto the pitch.
“He’s calm but also a little bit aggressive. He really wants to hound his message,” Trusty revealed.
It is the kind of mentality Celtic fans have come to admire from O’Neill over the years. The legendary manager built his reputation on demanding high standards, intensity, and complete focus in the biggest matches, especially against Rangers.
Trusty admitted that O’Neill’s experience and winning mentality had a major influence on the squad before the derby.
“But he has a lot of experience and knows exactly what to say. And we reacted well to it,” the defender added.
Judging by Celtic’s performance, the message clearly worked.
From the very first whistle, Celtic looked sharper, quicker, and far more determined than their rivals. The intensity in their pressing immediately unsettled Rangers, while the atmosphere inside Celtic Park only added to the pressure on Danny Rohl’s side.
Celtic moved the ball with confidence, controlled possession for large periods, and attacked with purpose every time they pushed forward. Rangers struggled to cope with the pace and aggression of the home side, with Celtic looking like a team fully convinced they were going to win the match long before kick-off.
Trusty himself was hugely influential at the back, helping keep Rangers quiet for most of the afternoon while also showing composure under pressure during key moments of the game.
The defender also revealed another important detail from O’Neill’s mentality — his belief that every single game should be approached like a Champions League final.
“He’s the same every game. Every game is a Champions League game to him,” Trusty explained.
That attitude appears to have become deeply embedded within the Celtic squad during this crucial stage of the season. With the title race entering its final weeks, Rodgers has repeatedly demanded total focus from his players, and the derby performance was perhaps the clearest example yet of a squad fully locked into the task ahead.
Trusty continued by explaining how O’Neill constantly reminds the players to remain focused only on the present moment rather than becoming distracted by pressure, media noise, or what might happen later in the season.
“He’s about being in the present, the past is in the past, and you can’t think about the future. You have to be in the present,” Trusty said.
That message could be seen throughout Celtic’s display against Rangers.
There was no panic, no loss of concentration, and no sign of nerves despite the enormous pressure surrounding the match. Instead, Celtic looked calm, disciplined, and ruthless whenever opportunities appeared.
Supporters inside Celtic Park responded to the performance with one of the loudest atmospheres of the season, sensing early on that their side had complete control of the contest. Every tackle, interception, and attacking move was greeted with huge noise from the stands as the Hoops pushed their rivals further and further backwards.
For Rangers, the defeat was another bitter blow in what has been an extremely disappointing campaign. Danny Rohl’s side arrived needing a huge result to restore belief among supporters, but instead left Celtic Park facing more criticism and frustration after another derby defeat.
Questions are now continuing to grow surrounding Rangers’ mentality in the biggest matches, especially after being outplayed for large periods by their fiercest rivals once again.
Meanwhile, Celtic supporters are dreaming of another title celebration and potentially even more silverware before the season comes to an end.
The timing of Trusty’s comments has only added further excitement among fans, many of whom have praised the mentality and leadership shown within the dressing room before such a massive fixture.
It also highlights why Martin O’Neill remains such a respected figure around Celtic. His demanding approach, elite mentality, and obsession with focus continue to influence players even now, particularly in matches where pressure and emotion can easily overwhelm teams.
For Trusty and his teammates, the message before the derby was simple: stay focused, stay aggressive, and treat the occasion like the biggest game possible.
By full-time, Celtic had done exactly that.
And judging by the celebrations at Celtic Park, supporters knew they had just witnessed one of the club’s most complete derby performances of the season.
