Liam Scales has been speaking after scoring Celtic's match-winner against Kilmarnock on Sunday. The Bhoys were far from their best against struggling Killie at Parkhead, looking fatigued as they limped into the international break on the back of a relentless schedule that has seen them play midweek every week since the last break.
Celtic were in control for much of the game, only really conceding one chance, which came in the first few minutes, leading Sam Johnstone to make a double save.
The Bhoys defended well and should have put the game to bed, especially when Benjamin Nygren missed a penalty late on, but they were fortunate enough to get a first-half goal which took the pressure off their missed chances.
"Maybe the performance levels weren't quite where we want - we were a bit leggy after Thursday night, and the most important thing is the result," Scales told Celtic Player at full-time. "But it's something we can build on."
On the missed chances, he added: "Yeah, definitely. I think we were all looking to get a couple more. Obviously at one goal there's always a chance - you're always kind of on edge towards the end of the game. But I think the performance probably deserved another one to kill it off, and that's something we maybe just need to get better at. Yeah, it was good overall."
Scales did well to score the opener, dangling out a long leg to meet Camilo Durán's well-placed cross, looping it up and over the goalkeeper.
"Yeah, maybe a bit of luck, I suppose," he added on the goal. "I was just trying to direct it goalwards and it looked like it took an age to come back down, but I was delighted when it hit the back of the net."
Celtic now go into the break with successive wins, a four-point lead at the top of the Premiership and still in with a chance of progressing in the Champions League after that big win over Besiktas during the week.
The Bhoys went into the last break on the back of three straight defeats, so there is a very different feeling around the team going into this break, which Scales appreciates.
"It's always good to go into the international windows after a win, so that's perfect for us," added the centre-back, who will now link up with Ireland. "I'm looking forward to going away, and I can't wait to get back in after."
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