Joe Hart intends to put a chastening 5-1 Europa Conference League aggregate defeat to Bodo/Glimt down to experience as quickly as possible, stating the bigger picture is the only picture, and thoughts of a third exit from European competition in a single season cannot afford to derail the team from the season’s ultimate focus – winning the league.

That’s not to say there isn’t disappointment or regret on the part of the Celtic Goalkeeper, as reported in Daily Record, as Hart admits to unhappiness from the players and the manager at Celtic’s meek performance in Norway last night, he simply knows he and his teammates just cannot afford to wallow in it.

“Have you ever seen the manager look happy? That’s just his face! Of course he wasn’t happy. None of us were happy. But we’re certainly not going to get too down about it. We have got big stuff ahead.

“Every game we go in to we have the intention of winning and playing out brand of football. We haven’t done it tonight. What can we do? Nothing. But we can move on to Sunday and do our best to perform and win again.

“There is a bigger picture – and that’s the only picture. It’s really simple. While we were in this competition it was in our picture to win it. Of course it was. We are out not but we are still in the league and the cup and that’s what we’ll focus on.”

Hart himself, it must be said, was one of Celtic’s better performers last night with saves at key moments that stopped the score becoming embarrassing, in the opening 45 minutes in particular where Celtic looked lost at sea at times. However, Hart wasn’t for taking any personal comfort, nor deflecting blame to teammates or to his manager’s team selection –

“Look, we stick together. We work hard. Sometimes we have to point things out to each other. It was tough to be 4-1 down in the tie away from home. Sometimes you need to try to push each other.

“I think we were beaten by the better team over two legs. Bodo deserved to win the tie. The home game was a pretty even affair and I felt we were dominant in terms of having control of the game.

“Bodo took their chances which was obviously key. It set them up for this game but we didn’t start particularly well. The goal made it difficult. We have a focus and a standard no matter what the scoreline is or what situation we are in. We work hard and stick to our principles and we believe we will gain more, even if we lose.”

Postecoglou of course wasn’t for admitting his priority was Sunday at Hibs rather than last night’s game. This despite the manager’s team selection hinting heavily he saw no way back for Celtic as Postecoglou picked a shadow team as a result, with the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Reo Hatate, Jota, Liel Abada, Greg Taylor and captain Callum McGregor omitted from the starting line-up despite Celtic chasing a two-goal deficit in the tie. Hart however stuck firmly to the party line as he stated it’s a squad game at Celtic and no excuses were offered.

“The manager has the squad he wants. It doesn’t matter who players or in what position. We play as a squad. The XI represent the other 15 or 16 who don’t play. That’s our jobs – to represent this club and for us to be successful we have to stick together.

“The message is the same every game. It’s so clear from this manager. No matter what we always review and see what we can do better, if we’ve won 5-0 or lose 5-1, like we have in this tie.

“We look for improvement no matter what. The games are coming thick and fast so we have to move on. We put every game to bed and look to impose ourselves next time. We believe that will win us more games than not.”

Joe Hart is quite right; Celtic can only afford to look forward now. There is little point crying over spilt milk when the games come thick and fast, and Hibs at lunchtime on Sunday can now be the only concern.

That’s not to say it’s not disappointing to lose to Bodo/Glimt particularly in the manner we’ve done so, but lessons learned from European competition can now wait until the close season. It is however a subject that has to be addressed then, as Celtic’s ability to compete at any level of European competition is certainly a concern.

Niall J