There is one set of Martin O'Neill quotes from after Thursday night's Europa League defeat to Ferencvaros that offer some hope. Celtic were beaten in their European opener, losing 3-1 to Hungarian side Ferencvaros, once again failing to deliver on the big occasion.
The Hoops rallied back after Ferencvaros scored against the run of play, but they conceded again less than two minutes later, and a super strike from former player Daniel Arzani effectively rubber-stamped the game.
This wasn't the sort of disastrous display we have seen from Celtic in the second leg of the LASK game or the Rangers derby clash over the weekend. But Hoops fans will have been left mightily frustrated by the lack of bravery and courage shown by their team.
Too often, Celtic played balls into the midfield from defence, and the midfielders gave it straight back. Wingers chose to cross early instead of truly taking on their men, and Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh up top were non-existent.
If Celtic are going to win big games against good teams, they must have players who are brave enough to take a chance or two. Players must spot the opportunities to try a trick or try to turn their man, rather then remaining back to opponent and protecting the ball at all costs.
Their opponents aren't afraid. Ferencvaros didn't see too much of the ball on Thursday night, but when they attacked, they attacked with conviction and got their rewards, helped by a strong winger in Bamidele Yusuf, who was willing to try tricks and pace to beat Kieran Tierney, which he had success with the majority of times.
But while we are all fed up of hearing the same things from O'Neill when it comes to 'a lesson learned' and all of that, the one refreshing thread from his most recent post-match press conference was that he too isn't a fan of how negative his team is.
He is also frustrated by the backwards play, and that suggests it is far from an instruction coming from him.
“I’ve been here 20-25 years ago, where the crowd can react like that, there. So it’s it’s it’s genuinely nothing new to me," O'Neill said in response to the boos at full-time.
“At the end of it all, I think that they were showing a lot of frustration as well too. There are times when when we had the ball, we look as if we were going forward, the next thing you know, we put two passes backwards.
“So those things definitely frustrate you, and that’s something we’ll have to try and iron out.”
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