Ange Postecoglou has offered his assessment of Celtic's draw with Shakhtar Donetsk as he outlined the 'task and challenge' for his troops going forward.
The Scottish champions are officially out of European competition with the curtain coming down on this season's exploits on the big stage next midweek against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. The Hoops went into this one tonight knowing they had to win to take hopes of playing Europa League football after Christmas into the final matchday. However, a 1-1 draw ended any hopes.
Giorgos Giakoumakis had Parkhead rocking with his opener as Postecoglou's men looked to secure a first win in the section but a stunner from Mykhaylo Mudryk earned a share of the spoils for the visitors and kept them dreaming of the last 16 stage with the back up prize of Europe's second tier competition now in the bag.
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Speaking to BT Sport after tonight's score draw in Glasgow's east end, the Hoops gaffer said: "It was a tight game. A Champions League game and a lot on the line for both clubs. We got in front and I thought we were pretty much in control and got caught on the counter. We had a chance with Kyogo that we missed then they had a chance they missed. It was a tight, typical Champions League game and unfortunately we are disappointed we couldn't get the result.
"There is no magic formula. It is just experience and continually striving to improve. As I said the boys are disappointed. They are flat and that shows our ambitions. We wanted to make an impact in this competition but it is our first time in five years and we've fallen short."
He continued: "There are areas we have fallen short in we need to improve. Again, it is not anything that can happen very quickly. Like I said it is where we want to get to. We want to be a Champions League club and that only happens with continued presence in this competition.
"I don't think there has been a game we haven't been competitive in. I think that is where you measure it. If we are outplayed in every game and never in the contest then it would be easier to sort of say we need to do a lot of work but in every game we have had we've been in the game and moments have cost us.
"We've got to be in this competition every year if we really want to make an impact. You can't go five years without being in it and expect to come in and make an impact at this level. That's our task and that's our challenge. That's what I mean about becoming a Champions League football club it is to be there every year."
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