Post by Taxigirl on Apr 16, 2004 10:00:49 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/3630339.stm
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill has targeted more European success but knows money will be tight to strengthen his squad.
"Having had two very good seasons in Europe we want to be in there having a chance," said O'Neill.
"We don't want to just occupy a Champions League spot we really want to contest it.
"I accept their lies the difficulty - the financial climate isn't that clever at the moment and certainly in Scotland it's difficult."
O'Neill will clinch his third Premier League title in four seasons and an automatic Champions League place if Celtic win at Kilmarnock on Sunday.
And he has his eye on the knock-out stage of the competition, following last season's run to the Uefa Cup final and reaching the last eight of the same tournament this time round.
"What you're trying to do is get a side capable of winning domestically but capable of taking that further and able to compete on the European scene," added O'Neill.
"Getting through to the last 16 of the Champions League would certainly be progress.
"I always think there is a danger of any club resting on its laurels and thinking everything is hunky-dory. Sometimes you have to invest a lot just to stand still.
"We've played 31 games in Europe over the last two seasons.
"This season we will play near on 60 competitive matches. There have been some fantastic games and great scalps along the way.
"That brings its own demands from the supporters, who will always want that bit more."
Prolific striker Henrik Larsson will leave Celtic Park at the end of the season and O'Neill will be on the look-out for new faces in the coming months.
"We have really had the team together for the last three or four seasons and it's been very good.
"Henrik will be leaving and there might be a few other changes.
"It's not only finding replacements but getting replacements of quality and that's the thing that stands in the way of any aspiring club."
O'Neill admitted that he would like to see up to six new players arriving at the club.
He told the Sun newspaper: "We need players in because it is impossible for us to keep going in Scotland and Europe without a reasonable squad.
"Six players wouldn't be far off the mark and we know what we need.
"The side has been together in Europe for two seasons.
"Before they came together this club lay dormant for over 20 years in this arena, but we need the right resources now and that's our balancing act."
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill has targeted more European success but knows money will be tight to strengthen his squad.
"Having had two very good seasons in Europe we want to be in there having a chance," said O'Neill.
"We don't want to just occupy a Champions League spot we really want to contest it.
"I accept their lies the difficulty - the financial climate isn't that clever at the moment and certainly in Scotland it's difficult."
O'Neill will clinch his third Premier League title in four seasons and an automatic Champions League place if Celtic win at Kilmarnock on Sunday.
And he has his eye on the knock-out stage of the competition, following last season's run to the Uefa Cup final and reaching the last eight of the same tournament this time round.
"What you're trying to do is get a side capable of winning domestically but capable of taking that further and able to compete on the European scene," added O'Neill.
"Getting through to the last 16 of the Champions League would certainly be progress.
"I always think there is a danger of any club resting on its laurels and thinking everything is hunky-dory. Sometimes you have to invest a lot just to stand still.
"We've played 31 games in Europe over the last two seasons.
"This season we will play near on 60 competitive matches. There have been some fantastic games and great scalps along the way.
"That brings its own demands from the supporters, who will always want that bit more."
Prolific striker Henrik Larsson will leave Celtic Park at the end of the season and O'Neill will be on the look-out for new faces in the coming months.
"We have really had the team together for the last three or four seasons and it's been very good.
"Henrik will be leaving and there might be a few other changes.
"It's not only finding replacements but getting replacements of quality and that's the thing that stands in the way of any aspiring club."
O'Neill admitted that he would like to see up to six new players arriving at the club.
He told the Sun newspaper: "We need players in because it is impossible for us to keep going in Scotland and Europe without a reasonable squad.
"Six players wouldn't be far off the mark and we know what we need.
"The side has been together in Europe for two seasons.
"Before they came together this club lay dormant for over 20 years in this arena, but we need the right resources now and that's our balancing act."