Embattled Tony Mowbray in no mood to fuel optimism

Published on Tuesday 1 December 2009 21:34

AS OPENING gambits go, it was not exactly promising for the assembled journalists in the Jock Stein Lounge at Celtic Park.

• Tony Mowbray was frosty with the written press as he discussed his side's clash with Hapoel. Picture: SNS

"C'mon, let's go, I'm busy," declared Tony Mowbray as he took his seat with the written press yesterday afternoon. Over the course of the next seven minutes or so, his mood did not lighten as he fulfilled his media obligations ahead of tonight's Europa League match against Hapoel Tel-Aviv.

It has been evident for some time now that Mowbray has been less than enamoured by what he perceives as unfair representation of some of his comments along with harsh assessments of Celtic's results and performances so far under his management.

While he kept his words to a minimum yesterday, his body language was beyond misinterpretation as Mowbray treated even the most straightforward questions with a degree of suspicion. His team may have returned to the top of the SPL at the weekend, but these are testing times for Mowbray.

Should Hamburg take even a point at home to Rapid Vienna tonight, Celtic will be eliminated from the Europa League irrespective of their own result. Having already been knocked out of the Champions League and Co-operative Insurance Cup, it would represent an unhappy hat-trick for Mowbray just five months into his tenure.

While defeat at the hands of Arsenal in the play-off round of the Champions League was excusable, Celtic's Europa League campaign has not been so easy to explain away. It was Mowbray himself, after all, who predicted Celtic were capable of making a serious impact in Europe's secondary tournament this season.

Just two points from their first four games has left them in need of a minor miracle to reach the last 32, a scenario not even Mowbray is prepared to give much credence. The tone was set in Israel on matchday one back in September when Celtic, leading through Georgios Samaras' first-half strike, conceded two goals in the last 15 minutes to slump to defeat. Hapoel have since underpinned that result with impressive 5-1 and 3-0 wins over Rapid Vienna which see them currently lead the group.

If the performances of the third seeds have been a surprise to some, however, Mowbray insists he was not guilty of underestimating Eli Gutman's team.

"I can't speak for anyone else, but as a football coach I've watched them and I know how good they are," said Mowbray.

"I'm aware of their talents and try to pick my team as best I can. I'd like to think I don't underestimate anyone. In Tel-Aviv we were strangling them but they were technically very good on the day. Samaras hit the bar, which would have made it 2-0, and their keeper also made a wonderful save. But it is what it is and we lost the game.

"Football is about taking your opportunities and we've missed some in this little campaign. We probably feel a little hard done by that we only have two points. Our play has warranted a little bit more but we have to accept where we are. We haven't taken our chances.

"I wouldn't say we are in a false position (at the bottom of the group], we just haven't taken our chances. The games have been close and competitive so far and I'm sure this will be the same.

"Hapoel have scored eight goals in their last two games and conceded one and they will be very confident they can top the group. We understand it will be a tough game, but we're capable of winning. We're also capable of losing as they are a very technical and talented team."

As the Hapoel players shivered in icy conditions during training at Celtic Park last night, the contrast to the sultry weather in which Mowbray's team eventually wilted in Tel-Aviv could not have been greater.

"Hopefully the weather will be in our favour and not theirs this time," said Mowbray. "We were conscious of the heat over there. It wasn't a day for expending energy. This match might be a game to expend some energy."

Mowbray is already looking beyond what he expects to be a failed Europa League campaign. South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-Yong is training with the Celtic squad this week ahead of his transfer from FC Seoul in January, while Honduras defender Oscar Chavez is on trial at Lennoxtown. Mowbray is also interested in French striker Olivier Giroud, having watched the player in action for Ligue 2 club Tours last Friday night.

"I think the lifeblood of any club is new talent," said Mowbray. "The club has got to evolve. Players stagnate if they stay at clubs too long, especially if they are not in and around the team every week.

"So if you are not out there looking for fresh talent, your club is probably standing still. Which means it's probably going backwards because everybody else is moving on. We are looking all over the world and scouring every market place for footballers."

While Mowbray is not holding out much hope of progressing from Group C, midfielder Marc Crosas is refusing to give up hope of Celtic qualifying.

"I think we still have a chance," said the Spaniard, who is likely to line-up alongside Aiden McGeady, Landry N'Guemo and Barry Robson in the middle of the pitch tonight.

"The table also says that we still have a chance and so we need to do our job, win our games and then we will see. We will try and win tomorrow and see if we are playing for pride (in the last game] or still have a chance.

"I think the team is confident of getting our first win."

Crosas added: "We have the same pressure in every game. We are Celtic, one of the best teams in Europe, and we need to try and win every game we play and that is the pressure."