manager: our performance deserved more

Newsroom Staff
GORDON Strachan had spoken before the game against Villarreal of the need for Celtic to produce a performance they could be proud of.

In the event, that’s exactly what his players did serve up at the El Madrigal Stadium. Unfortunately, the end result was another disappointment on the road for the Hoops.

Villarreal captain, Marcus Senna’s 67th minute free-kick was all that separated the sides on the night, though the Hoops could consider themselves unlucky that they didn’t return home with something to show from their efforts.

Speaking after the game in Spain, the Celtic manager said: “We wanted a performance. The first-half performance and the first 10 minutes of the second half were excellent.

“We played against a right good side and gave them a right good game. We were always a threat, particularly on the counter-attack, and we were reasonably comfortable at the back.

“Villarreal showed what a right good side they are and in Senna, they have a world-class player.

“We showed we belong at this level. That performance was good enough to win at most places. It was just unfortunate that we came up against one of the best teams in Europe at the moment.”

Villarreal made the breakthrough from a set-piece though the Celtic players were aggrieved that the award had been made in the first place after Paul Hartley had been penalised for a foul on Joseba Llorente.

The Hoops boss added: “I had a look at it and I’m not convinced it is a free-kick. The players are not convinced it was a free-kick. Only the pictures will tell you.”

Celtic will now hope to take something from their next away game – against UEFA Champions League holders Manchester United on October 21.