No Celtic future chat pre-cup final, says O'Neill

Scottish Premiership-winning manager Martin O'Neill does not expect discussion about the future of his position at Celtic before Saturday's Scottish Cup final with Dunfermline Athletic - but doubts whether he would "have the energy" to continue.

O'Neill, who first managed Celtic from 2000-05, has twice stepped in as boss at Celtic Park this season after Brendan Rodgers' and Wilfried Nancy's spells in charge. Upon his second return in January, Celtic trailed leaders Hearts by six points.

The Tynecastle side went into Saturday's meeting with Celtic in Glasgow one point in front and were on course to be champions at 1-1 until Celtic scored two late goals.

"No, I don't think anything would be said," O'Neill, 73, said on TalkSPORT when asked about his and the club's managerial future.

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"We've got the big Scottish Cup final next Saturday and I don't think that anything would be discussed [before] then, nor was I expecting it to.

"If you were asking me today, I genuinely wouldn't have the energy at this moment. I am fairly decent in terms of age. I'm going to see less days than I've seen.

"Who knows? I definitely found energy from somewhere. I think that was to do with working with a lot of people, young coaches who were fantastic for me. And also, stepping into the training ground each day and seeing a lot of young people, I did definitely, I felt a rejuvenation, I definitely felt some sort renaissance as much as anything else. And that hasn't left me as from today. I'm tired but it hasn't left me as from today.

"Do I think that Celtic should offer me? I don't think that. Do I feel I've merited? Of course I have."

Major shareholder Dermot Desmond twice asked O'Neill back to the club this term and O'Neill said he had spent "a couple of minutes" with Desmond following Saturday's win, adding: "He was in really good form."

It was also put to O'Neill that the ugly scenes at full-time as spectators entered the pitch showed a lack of class and tainted the image of Celtic's win.

"I totally disagree with that," O'Neill replied. "I don't know about the confrontations in terms of the Hearts players. There's a lot of hyperbole about that. Let's find out the real picture."

And he was asked about Hearts referring to the scenes as having "embarrassed Scottish football".

"As they might do," said O'Neill. "I don't believe that, I just don't believe it. I think it's nonsense.

"Let me have a look at the picture, let me have a look as if I was judge and jury of these particular things. Let me see the scenes at the end of the day and then I'll come back to you, OK."