Postecoglou won't let Celtic players 'off the hook' after heavy loss

Ange Postecoglou has said that he can’t let Celtic’s 4-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen be seen as acceptable if the team is to develop.

The Parkhead side suffered their second Europa League group stage defeat as their Bundesliga opposition ruthlessly punished defensive lapses and inflicted another bruising result.

The result means Celtic only have two wins from their last eight games but the margin of defeat was particularly hard for Postecoglou to take.

Though the Australian has been working to build a team and has been hampered by injuries, he said that the scoreline was one that meant it was difficult to take any positives.

“If you kind of accept it then you won’t grow from it,” Postecoglou said.

“When you lose 4-0 it’s not enough. It shouldn’t be.

“The scoreline shouldn’t have reflected that game. I don’t want to let the guys off the hook, or myself off the hook.”

The manager, who took over this summer, has been consistent in his attacking, expansive approach to the game, though the team has had defensive problems. He said that building a team would always have setbacks but that didn’t mean that defeats of this extent had to be factored in.

“We’re not going to change our approach,” he said. “I really believe that moving forward, when we play in these big games I want us to be a team that doesn’t fear anyone, that goes at it and takes the game to opponents who are quality sides.

“That’s the kind of team we’re going to be. That’s what I’m trying to build.

“The process takes time and you’re going to cop some knocks on the chin like we did tonight but that doesn’t mean we have to accept that.

“You need to understand that it’s avoidable if you do certain things.”