Billy McNeill has given his backing to Celtic manager Tony Mowbray and says he feels criticism of the new boss is unfair while Celtic sit top of the league. The ex-Celtic player and manager also discussed the expectations of the support and comparisons with his own legendary Celtic side.
“At the moment, I feel that Tony Mowbray has maybe been unfairly treated just a little bit,” McNeill said.
“He’s at the top of the league, which I think is a tremendous position to be in, and hopefully he’ll stay there until the end of the season.”
McNeill reflected on his own career and the Celtic legend praised his team-mates but also that there were no rivals to the likes of Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Murdoch in the present side.
While happy to see Mowbray’s team top the SPL, McNeill, who lifted the European Cup as Celtic captain in 1967, said that the fans demand for success in Europe was understandable but tough to achieve.
“With a club like Celtic the fans will always demand,” he said.
“They’ll always want something to come. In the case of this club, it’s a European trophy and I accept that but it has become more and more difficult in Europe.
“I think at times the players are being asked to do things that are very, very difficult, even more difficult than they were in our days.”
As a former central defender himself, McNeill said that he felt that time was needed for the manager to get things right at the back. Much of the criticism directed at Celtic in recent weeks has been concerning the form of Glenn Loovens, Steven McManus and Gary Caldwell and McNeill suggested the form was part of the natural transition from one manager to the next.
While still passionately committed to the club where he spent his best years, McNeill allowed himself time to look back as he launched a new DV containing his greatest triumphs.
“Obviously the career that I had was great,” he said.
“I played with some fabulous players, had some great success, had a great manager in big Jock Stein so the memories are brilliant.”
Last updated: 11 November 2009, 11:30
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