The Ipswich Town manager’s comments follow a run in which the team have repeatedly found late goals and recovered from losing positions. Ipswich had scored five times in the 90th minute or later in the Premier League this season at the time of his remarks.
Speaking to Kings of Anglia, O’Neil said Ipswich had deliberately recruited players who would strengthen an already positive dressing-room environment.
“They’re an incredible group. We said in the transfer window we were trying to recruit really good people to add to the excellent culture that was already here.
“It’s the best group for culture and for togetherness stuff I’ve ever been around.
“So that gives us a chance, maybe when the tactical stuff or the technical stuff is letting us down a little bit, we can fall back on that and it still gives us a chance in matches.
“You’ve seen the impact that the guys managed to have coming on later on in the game.
“The fitness levels are top. We run a lot every weekend. We cover an awful lot of ground, which I can imagine can be difficult to play against for the opposition.”
The manager said his role at Ipswich has been more about maintaining the culture than repairing divisions. He explained that at previous clubs he had spent more time on discipline and bringing people together, whereas the current squad were already pulling in the same direction.
“Here, I hardly ever have to do any of that, the culture – obviously I push it and I drive it and I lead it.
“But more trying to keep pushing it in the right direction rather than trying to turn it around.
“Here there’s none of that. It’s a top group. The club have recruited so well over the last few years and in this window, good people.
“There’s so many good people, whoever that is, be it the playing staff or the staff around us.
“I don’t have to spend much time making sure that stuff’s in place. I know what I’m going to see from my team from a mentality point of view.
“Obviously, I’ve had talented players and all the clubs I’ve been at, but this group is special really in how focused they are and how hard they work and how easy they are to push in the right direction.”
The comments underline O’Neil’s belief that togetherness can help Ipswich stay competitive when the technical or tactical side of a performance is below their standard. Their late goals and comebacks have reflected that persistence, but the challenge is to sustain it over the full Premier League campaign.