RYAN CHRISTIE had nothing to celebrate following a rare first team start as Celtic went down 2-1 at Kilmarnock yesterday.
However, the classy midfielder is convinced the Hoops will overcome the setback and return to the form that has brought in two back-to-back trebles since Brendan Rodgers arrived in May 2016.
The Irishman has never lost a Betfred League Cup-tie and has picked up the silverware in his first two seasons, beating Aberdeen 3-0 in the first Final and Motherwell 2-0 in the last campaign.
Now the Parkhead men face a trip to Perth on Wednesday to take on St Johnstone in the quarter-final of the tournament and Christie is convinced the club will be in the live televised draw after the action.
He said: “It is just about belief and togetherness. We know we have got that.
“We are starting to come under a bit of scrutiny, but that is when you start looking to either side of you, at your team-mates and push each other through.
“We have definitely got the ability to do that. We are not exactly panicking or anything like that.
“We still highly believe that we can push on and get back to the top of our game and we are looking to do that as soon as we can.
“Now we go into the St Johnstone game and we are desperate to put ourselves into a semi-final.
“Everybody has to be at the top of their game. We have to forget about yesterday, look at it and right the wrongs.
“But, most importantly, focus on St Johnstone and make sure we come out of that having progressed into the semi-final.”
The Perth Saints were also losers yesterday as they crashed 5-1 at Ibrox.
