The Celtic Players Who Talked To The Press Seem More Confident Than Despondent.

Normally, after a bad defeat, I want Celtic’s players to shut up and focus on the game to come. I don’t want to hear them rally themselves. I’d rather they did it in private, rather than make grandiose promises which come back to bite them.

But in this case I’ll take it. In this case it’s good to see Jenz and O’Riley and others come out and say that the mood is still good and the heads are still up. I’ll be writing later about the black cloud above the club right now and why it’s not an issue … the players already get it.

It is good to hear that the heads are not down and that everyone is looking forward to the next game. To read some of the media coverage we’re getting you’d think we were in deep trouble instead of still holding the future very much in our own hands.

The players and the management team get it. They know that this is a blip to be overcome, not a swamp to sink down into. They are not about to let this derail our progress.

For once I’m happy – eager even – to hear the players express their self belief. It is a sign to everyone else out there that they write this team off at their peril, because we haven’t come this far to fail. We haven’t shaped ourselves into a winning machine just to let it all fall apart because of a few dodgy performances.

Every team goes through them. It is the great sides which come through to the other side and win things. That’s what this team did last season. It’s what I expect them to do in this one. Most important, it’s what the players expect themselves to do.

That’s more like it Celtic. That’s who we’re meant to be.