Source: Team_Talk
GS: Bhoy, did we need that break
With a two-week gap between their last match and their first post-split fixture at Aberdeen this weekend, Strachan took his side to La Manga.
As well as giving his battle-weary stars a rest, the trip allowed the Hoops boss the chance to check on the fitness of recovering players, including Stephen McManus, Barry Robson, Darren O'Dea and Georgios Samaras.
He will need as few injuries as possible if the club are to survive a schedule of five games in the next four weeks, matches which will decide the destiny of the SPL title.
The first two of those could be the hardest of all, with back-to-back trips to Pittodrie and Ibrox on the horizon.
Strachan said: "There's a real focus now.
"We managed to re-energise ourselves in Spain, but it was also important to set ourselves up for that by getting a good result against Aberdeen before we left. That made the journey a lot more relaxing.
"We have some hard games coming up, but we have just got to get on with it.
"As a matter of fact, the Aberdeen people told us after we played them at Celtic Park that we would be at Pittodrie for the first game after the split.
"We always knew the second game would be against Rangers. That was the biggest certainty.
"We knew what was coming. It didn't surprise me when the two away games came out first. I knew it was happening before I boarded the flight to
Spain."
It will not help Strachan that he will be without star midfielder Scott Brown for both matches after the Scotland international picked up a two-match ban.
But the break has allowed the Celtic boss to plan for the absence of Brown, with Paul Hartley the most likely candidate to fill the void.
Gary Caldwell could also be moved forward from a central defensive position if McManus and O'Dea are fit to return at the back.
Strachan said: "I think we already know what we are going to do to replace Scott.
"I am comfortable with the quality of the squad. We have the players to come in."
On the injury front, he added in Celtic View: "We're hoping to get Georgios back in full training soon.
"Robbo has been doing a bit more running, and Darren is back in training, while Stephen is just nursing himself back."
Meanwhile, Celtic have revealed Barcelona, Tottenham and Egyptian side Al-Ahly are set to be their opponents at the inaugural Wembley Cup this summer.
The competition is scheduled to take place on Friday, July 24 and Sunday, July 26, with Celtic becoming the first Scottish team to play at the new Wembley.
