After Wednesday’s 1-1 draw away to Shakhtar Donetsk, Ange Postecoglou is insistent that the experience gained from the match will only better their future European results.
The Celtic gaffer was noticeably frustrated at the result but certainly not the performance in his post-match interview after Celtic’s dominant performance over Shakhtar Donetsk, which concluded with a mere draw. Although the Bhoys failed to take all three points on offer in Warsaw, the exposure to European fixtures will show the Hoops that they are very capable of winning in Europe.
Celtic’s domestic performance was compared with the European performances so far, with the noticeable difference of Celtic scoring 29 goals in their first seven games, including the record-breaking 9-0 victory in Tannadice. While creating just as many chances in Europe but failing to be as clinical.
“It’s experience, isn’t it? Not many teams score nine goals at Champions League level. The games are by their nature tighter and the chances are a little bit sharper. But you can’t improve on that unless you are exposed to it.
“We know there are areas of improvement for us and part of that is taking the chances that we have, but it’s the most difficult part of our game. And the higher the level you go, the more difficult it gets.
“It’s why the ones who are successful at the highest possible levels in terms of scoring goals and taking chances are the most priceless of assets. They are in a unique space.
“But it doesn’t mean that you can’t get there and you can’t strive to get there.
“I don’t see it as a weakness for us. It’s more a case of, the more we expose ourselves to it, the more we put ourselves in those positions, as I said after the game, we will get the rewards.
“The difficulty is getting to that space in the first place, one to compete at that level, and secondly to create chances at that level. It’s not easy, you are playing against world-class players and world-class teams.
“But we are edging our way to be that kind of team and then the next layer is to turn the opportunities into goals, and then you turn that into victories at that level on a consistent basis.
“But that doesn’t happen at the snap of a finger. It takes time. But that’s what we are trying to build into this group.”
Celtic head to Paisley to face St Mirren today to continue their League campaign. Ange is keen to keep Celtic’s league form going while balancing European football as well. He said…
“Obviously our league form has been really good and I think we have improved every time we have gone out there.
“With no football in the league last weekend we concentrated on the Champions League but our focus is making sure we go out there on Sunday and improve on our performances so far and keep our league form going.”