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"I don't think we could have coped last season with the number of top class players we've been without for fairly substantial periods this time around.
"If you'd said to me that the likes of Chris Sutton would only play in half of our games, I doubt if we would have won any of the competitions never mind all three. That's why much of what the players have done this season have been even more pleasing from my point of view than what they achieved last year."
On Celtic's first venture into the Champions League, the manager remains pleased at the effort put in by his inexperienced squad:
"We'd love to be in it again," he said. "It's a great competition, and there's no doubt that qualifying for it is something that drives us on. The excitement of being in the Champions League has definitely helped spur the boys on to win the league and, in doing so, claim the only SPL place on offer.
"The players want to get back in Europe because they certainly had some really great experiences this season. They played brilliantly here at Celtic Park and, although we were mauled in Portugal, I'm sure a few teams would have been beaten considering the form Porto were in that night."
With two Champions League qualifiers to come next season it will as difficult as ever for Celtic to get into the first round proper but you can bet O'neill will have his troops fired up and ready for action no matter who they draw in the summer.