manager stays positive

David Friel
CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan remained upbeat following Celtic’s 4-1 defeat against Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Thursday night.

The SPL champions were left stunned as the Premiership side stormed 3-0 ahead at half-time. Scott Brown pulled a goal back for Celtic in a much-improved second-half display, but James Milner rounded off the scoring for the Magpies late on.

The Hoops boss said: “I see a lot of things that can be rectified. We know what we want to do.

“There are one or two little failings at the moment which can easily be put right. They are just functional things which we will keep to ourselves.

"We showed in the second half against Newcastle, when we put these things right, that the game became a lot easier. If you get the basics of the game right, then you're okay.

"It was one of the best friendlies I've been involved in. There were good chances, good goals, good saves, and the football was good at times.

“So I enjoyed the game. I didn't enjoy the result, but I'm not going away a confused manager. I am a manager whose future looks bright.”

Following on from last year’s pre-season campaign, where poor results made way for a double-winning campaign, Strachan admits it’s hard to know how to treat results and performances at this early stage.

"You never really know at this time how you are,” he said. “You can get some great pre-season results and feel you are ready for it, then you can be disappointed during the season.

“Sometimes you get some horrendous results pre-season, then the season is all right. You never really know at this time.

“You can only really gauge your emotions at the end of the season, and they are real ones. You can only gauge then how well you have done.”

Strachan praised the performance of 19-year-old Celtic right-back Paul Caddis, who acquitted himself impressively against experienced opposition on his full debut.

"I thought Paul did well,” he said.  "Lee Naylor also did well in the second half when we got the shape right to start attacking, and Scott Brown did well.

“So, there were good things. We were just a wee bit rusty in the 18-yard box, but I'm sure that will become better as the season goes on.”