Haissem Hassan will have clear Celtic role under Martin O'Neill
· Michael Gannon · 2026-08-11 · nguồn gốc
Haissem Hassan will have clear Celtic role as Martin O'Neill wide man plan still the same after 20 years
Hoops number two Shaun Maloney has opened up on manager Martin O'Neill's vision for his attackers after being asked to do the same thing himself
The capture of Haissem Hassan is another sign of intent from Martin O’Neill.
The Hoops boss is going to get wide this season.
O’Neill is on the mend following his health scare last week but Celtic are still forging ahead with transfer business with Egypt attacker Hassan set to check in.
The champions have already snapped up a couple of strikers in Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran and the pair have already won over the punters.
Duran bagged three goals in pre-season but has moved out to the flank to make way for Hogh – who basted a hat-trick in the thumping win against Kilmarnock to get up and running.
The pair look lethal in front of goal but they will be relying on service.
And Shaun Maloney insisted the focus will be on the wingers to deliver.
Hassan arrives with a reputation as a dribbler who loves to get to the byline.
The £6m capture is expected to be the main man with Yang Hyun-Jun and James Forrest for company on the right and Sebastian Tounekti the first pick on the opposite flank with Jota hopeful of a return before the clocks go back.
Maloney burst on to the scene as a player under O’Neill and the gaffer’s mantra hasn’t changed too much over the years.
He’ll make it clear what he wants from Hassan and co.
Maloney is at the helm will the boss recuperates and he said: “Martin is really aggressive in that he wants wingers to take on their opponent when we create a one-on-one.
“He gives the wingers the confidence that they can do that and that they shouldn’t worry about losing it.
“You aren’t going to beat a full-back in a one v one every time.
“What those players need is the support and confidence from the manager that makes them go and try again the next time.
“If they lose it again, you have to go again.
“Martin has always been that way. I remember when I was young he was the same.
“He has always urged wingers to go for a one v one.
“We have some work to do with other wingers, who are talented but maybe need to add goals and assists.
“But Martin is great in encouraging the one versus ones.”
Hassan will go straight to the top of the queue but it doesn’t mean Yang will be out of the picture.
The Korean went from fringe man to regular last term but Maloney admitted it’s an area of the team that needed strengthening.
The no.2 said: “Yang kind of just took that right-wing position by the scruff of the neck last year.
“He went to another level. I think he's always been that sort of impact player at the club.
“But last year, he went, 'I want to be an important player'.
“But we need a left-sided player there too because you can attack differently.
“So, we need to strengthen that side of the attack.”
Last term was a watershed moment for Yang. The wide man had spent a few seasons lingering on the bench and was almost out the door last summer before failure to land a replacement brought him back into the fold.
Former boss Brendan Rodgers gave him a boost but it was under O’Neill and Maloney the 24-year-old finally flourished and produced key moments such as his displays against Feyenoord, Hearts and Rangers.
Maloney said: "I remember speaking to him in that first couple of days (last October). We trained some really basic things, but he just showed some really good one-on-one talent off the left.
"Honestly, it was just him. He started to come on as a sub for Martin, had a really good impact. And then he was off and running.
"He earned the manager's trust. He's got an unbelievable work rate.
"In the first half against Dundee, he wasn't particularly good attacking.
"He was brilliant without the ball. So, he just earned the trust of the manager and us as staff. And then maybe a little bit of confidence as well.
"He's a really big player. And he's so good for the team. I think his teammates love him for the work rate.
"He didn't play any pre-season minutes for us, obviously. He didn't have his best attacking game for us (on Monday) but there was even a moment this morning we showed where he sprinted 60 yards back to win a ball.
"I completely see a difference in where he is now with his teammates. The staff and also the support.
"The support really recognises how hard he works.
"He is an incredible worker. Daizan (Maeda) was about as good an attacking player as I've seen without the ball.
"Yang is trying desperately to get to those levels. He's really, really popular with his teammates. I would say that that just comes with hard work.
"Because not every winger has an amazing game, attacking-wise. But if you can give a side of the game to your teammates, then you'll find yourself in the team in big games.”
Yang and the rest of the wingers can expect the personal touch from Maloney as well this season.
He said: “I have picked up the individual work with the attacking players after games.
“Last season, Gavin Strachan did that work. I can’t take any credit for that!
“We also had Greg Wallace, who went Saudi with Brendan recently, and those two were really good with the individual stuff.
“I was doing things away from the pitch more, so I will pick more of that up this season.
“I would love to say it was all me last year but it wasn’t!
“Stephen McManus and Mark Fotheringham do their stuff with different positions, but it was Gav and Gregg who did the attacking work.”