Martin O'Neill believes Celtic improved by showing some spirit during a lost cause clash with Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday night.
The Bhoys fell to a 4-1 defeat in Lisbon, conceding an early penalty and falling 3-0 down before half-time. Camilo Durán got on the scoresheet in the second half, but the Hoops never looked as though they were truly on the comeback charge, and Benfica rounded off the scoring with a minute to go.
Celtic just don't look good enough to compete with teams like Benfica, but there was one improvement that O'Neill noticed from previous European collapses.
“It was tough. We conceded an early goal from a penalty kick," he told Celtic Player. "It put us on the back foot, particularly when we'd started actually quite brightly.
“We'd forced a corner from them, and no sooner had that happened, then we were 2-0 down. We could have capitulated at half-time in the game at 3-0.
“In fact, we should have scored. We had a great chance to make it 2-1 before they made it 3-0.
But I take encouragement from the second half performance. I thought we were brilliant.
“But in terms of chances we created, I thought that was terrific. Of course, we let the game slip in the first half, but really big, big effort. The substitutes coming on made a massive difference to us and I was delighted with the second half.
“Honestly, it gives me the heart to know that we'll still qualify for the knockout stages. The subs really seem to make a difference.”
O'Neill may have a point
It was another disappointing performance from Celtic, make no mistake about it. You would like to think that even being outgunned, the Bhoys could have sat behind the ball and just made it impossible for their opponents to score four.
But even while playing deep they can be opened up, and that's not a good sign.
One thing Celtic can get some credit for, as O'Neill says, is creating chances and continuing to do so for much of the game. Kasper Hogh should have scored from a yard out by hit the post, and Durán hit the bar straight after.
There were a handful of other second-half chances as the front line continued to push, even if it was circumstantial, in some ways, with Benfica looking a little relaxed by that point.
Celtic have folded like a lawn chair in previous games like this, so it is a positive to see them show some fight and continue until the end.
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