The Celtic manager reflects on his side's Viaplay Cup last-16 defeat at Rugby Park.
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00:00 Well, obviously, disappointed to lose and be out of the Cup.
00:03 I think first of all, congratulations to Pumarnath.
00:06 They showed a resilience and defended well and took the chance when it came.
00:12 I think from our perspective,
00:14 we're very disappointed.
00:17 Certainly, we know that we're nowhere near the level that we would need to be at to win the game.
00:22 We were a bit more progressive when we got the goal.
00:29 When we conceded the goal, sorry, it started to be a threat.
00:32 I thought Yang coming into the game did very well, gave us that
00:37 ability to take people on in the 1v1.
00:41 But other than that, we lacked quality in the game.
00:45 So, disappointed.
00:46 You say you weren't near your level.
00:48 Can you put your finger on why you think that might have been from the start?
00:51 Yes, we're just not at the level,
00:55 in terms of performance.
00:57 So, it's a tough place to come, of course.
01:02 But we need to show more.
01:05 We need to have a greater physicality in the game.
01:08 And then when you've won that battle,
01:13 then you need to play with more quality.
01:15 And sadly, we didn't play with that.
01:18 As a first spelling of such success, you weren't used to defeat Slang.
01:22 I was wondering how you put this into context of what you want to achieve second time round.
01:26 Is it a setback for you in a bigger picture of things, or is it a competition in isolation?
01:30 No, listen, I think when I've come in here before and won trebles,
01:35 I think people might think that's just what you come in to do.
01:37 It's a very, very difficult thing to do.
01:39 And as you see today, I think it magnifies the achievement from before.
01:43 However, it's a new cycle now and I want to win every game as a Celtic manager.
01:50 So today, it's particularly disappointing.
01:54 So, of course, it's always a setback when you lose a game and go out of a cup competition.
01:59 But you've got 24 hours to get over it and then you've got a long season ahead with many games and many things to play for.
02:07 So, that's what we work on.
02:09 Is this a point where you can use it to reinforce the message to the new arrivals and those not longing the door of what the level is expected at the Football Club and use it as a catalyst for the rest of the campaign?
02:20 Yes, listen, I said at the beginning when I came in here,
02:23 this isn't a continuation.
02:25 Good teams aren't born.
02:28 We get new players in, we get players left.
02:35 So, we have to work very, very hard.
02:37 And if you think it's just going to happen, then that's not going to be the case.
02:42 But at Celtic, you have to settle in very, very quickly.
02:46 So, I think for the new players coming in, they'll have seen that.
02:49 The young players that are coming into the club with huge expectations.
02:53 But they will get better and they'll improve.
02:56 And days like today, even though it's a sore one, you've just got to take your medicine, stay together and move on to the next game.
03:04 Did you think the two guys at the back were going to do so much?
03:08 Listen, it's an important area.
03:09 You're a team that have never played together before.
03:12 So, that's something that's been really steady here for a couple of seasons.
03:18 So, we've come out.
03:20 I thought Gustav [Göstavsson] has done well.
03:21 He's strong, he's aggressive for a young player.
03:23 He wants to defend forward.
03:25 He'll get better.
03:27 And like I say, the more the players can play together, the more relationships they'll build and be better for it.
03:34 I thought Jan was excellent when he came into the game.
03:37 When I look at the team, it's that match-winning ability that maybe we certainly need to have more of within the squad.
03:48 I thought Audren [Vardy] showed flashes and showed really good moments, but he's 20 years of age.
03:53 He's going to get better.
03:56 And days like today will help him do that.
03:58 You mentioned that this is a new cycle for most of your recruitment.
04:00 The players have been under 25.
04:02 Do you want more experienced players in before the window closes?
04:07 Well, we want good players.
04:09 That's whatever age they are.
04:12 We need quality.
04:14 That's for sure.
04:16 So hopefully, between now and the window, we can improve the squad on that.
04:22 Clearly, the model within the club is to bring the players in, but at a younger age, develop them and improve them.
04:30 But we're not against bringing in someone at 26, 27 if they can improve the squad.
04:35 You mentioned Jan. Was he close to starting today, Brendan?
04:38 Yeah, he was.
04:42 He's been settling in really well.
04:44 I thought he was excellent when he came on against Aberdeen.
04:47 Today, I thought he was really creative when he came into the game and he brought a brightness to us in that attack in third.
04:54 So, yeah, I think when there's no midweek games, obviously the team that won last week, most of them deserve to play.
05:04 We obviously got a few injuries, but he's already come into the game and showed up very well.
05:10 There was a penalty shoot in the last match there with Zaid.
05:13 Did you have a view on that?
05:14 No, no, I haven't seen it.
05:15 So I wouldn't know whether it was close or not.
05:19 Thanks.