Ange Postecoglou assumed full responsibility for Celtic’s failure to get off to a flier against Midtjylland in the Champions League.
Hampered by a lack of new faces, the Australian was denied a winning start after Evander’s second half free-kick cancelled out Liel Abada’s opener.
Nir Bitton undermined Celtic’s chances of victory in the first leg by being sent off just before the break a goal to the good and seemingly in the ascendancy.
Ange Postecoglou took responsibility for Celtic's failure to beat Midtjylland in the Champions League
The Scottish side have it all to do in the second leg after conceding an away goal
Fingers were also pointed at Vasilis Barkas after the Greek keeper failed to deal with Evander’s strike from an acute angle on 66 minutes.
Determined to shoulder the blame for a result that was disappointing but not disastrous, though, Postecoglou said: ‘I am confident tonight that will go there and put in a good performance. I can’t ask any more of the players.
‘Sometimes the result belies the facts before you.
‘We will be better prepared no doubt, in eight days’ time.
‘In fact, I don’t think we will ever be as badly prepared as we were tonight and that’s on me, going into such an important game.
Liel Abada put Celtic ahead in the 39th minute before they were reduced to 10 men
‘We have eight more days. I feel confident that the preparation and the spirt we have, we will put in a good performance. It is on me.’
Abada was the only new signing to start last night but Postecoglou didn’t see the lack of fresh faces as a disadvantage.
‘I don’t think I’m at a disadvantage, my role is to try and support these players and try to prepare them the best I can for what is in front of us,’ he stressed.
‘I haven’t done a great job so far to be honest, because with the disruptions we’ve had, we haven’t been able to bring the players in.
‘My role is to try and reinforce this squad and to try to
