ANGE POSTECOGLOU praised his players after their mighty efforts in the Champions League stalemate in Warsaw last night.
As CQN’s match reporter stated: “This was a contest where it would be fair to say Celtic annihilated Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1.”
The Hoops boss watched his team dominate a team that had struck four goals the previous week against RB Leipzig in Germany in the opening game in the section.
DESPAIR…Ange Postecoglou turns away with his head in his gands after another squandered opportunity.
It’s turning out to be Group F for Frustration after the Parkhead men had to settle for their first point following the previous outing, a 3-0 loss to European champions Real Madrid in another glamour occasion that could have had a very different scoreline if the players had made the most of their chances.
Postecoglou, though, is not pressing any panic buttons ahead of the double-header against the Bundesliga outfit who lost 2-0 in the Bernabeu only a couple of hours after the final whistle in the Polish capital.
The Greek-Australian gaffer said: “I thought the performance was excellent, though not reflected by the result I think we deserved.
“They’re a good team that can cause you problems, but, for the most part, we handled it really well.
“We started the game well, but they obviously got back in with a goal, but, again, we regrouped really well and in the second-half dominated the game.
“We created opportunities while limiting them. I couldn’t ask any more of the players. I’m just disappointed we couldn’t get the win.”
WHOOPS IN WARSAW…Reo Hatate kick-starts Celtic’s celebrations as his shot takes a flick off a defender on its way into the net.
Celtic’s goal was credited by UEFA to Shakhtar defender Artem Bondarenko, but it was a delightful move which began with a raking crossfied pass from Josip Juranovic to Sead Haksabanovic, making his first start, and Reo Hatate made a clever, lung-bursting run to receive his pass.
The Japanese midfielder whipped in an angled effort that took a slight flick off the Ukrainian on its way into the net.
Annoyingly, however, dangerman Mykhail Mudryk was allowed to run clear of Juranovic and blast in the equaliser just before the half-hour mark that ultimately cost Celtic all three points.
DOWN…Giorgos Giakoumakis buries his head on the ground after his 85th-minute effort flew wide.
DOWN…Daizen Maeda is flat out after his late effort failed to hit the target.
Postecoglou, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “The first goal is always important, but at this level, every moment of every game is important because it’s Champions League football, it takes everything out of you and you have to be at your best all the time.
“We created chances and we were unlucky on a couple of occasion, but I couldn’t ask any more of the players.
“They gave everything, but we didn’t get the rewards. If we keep doing that, we will.
“It gives us another moment to reflect that that’s what we have to do at this level.
“We have to be at our best all the time for every minute of the game and that’s where we want to be.
“We want to test ourselves every time and we did that again on this occasion – and we’ll do it for every game in this group.”
Next up are RB Leipzig away on October 5 with the return in Glasgow six days later.
POINT TAKEN – BUT IT’S DEADLOCK DESPAIR
