Source: Team_Talk
Mowbray salutes spirit of Bhoys
An experimental Hoops side with seven changes from last weekend's win over Motherwell found themselves three goals behind after only 19 minutes in the Group C dead rubber as Nikica Jelavic grabbed a double before strike partner Hamdi Salihi's goal threatened a rout.[LNB]However, Celtic refused to buckle completely and began a thrilling comeback when striker Marc-Antoine Fortune scored before the break.[LNB]The former Nancy frontman doubled his tally in the 67th minute before Paul McGowan, making his first start of the season, drove in a stoppage-time leveller to keep Celtic in third place.[LNB]"I didn't learn anything about the players that I didn't know," Mowbray said.[LNB]"The last 80 minutes epitomises our club.[LNB]"We needed to react and be positive in adversity and we did just that.[LNB]"We showed what our spirit was all about.[LNB]"The players' desire to get back in to the game and really, the Celtic spirit, was there to be seen.[LNB]"We kept playing football and creating chances and worked our way back into the game.[LNB]"We ultimately got some reward but the players are disappointed that we didn't score a few more goals."[LNB]He added: "The start to the game was down to a combination of things.[LNB]"They had some very good players and we played in the wrong areas of the pitch for the first few minutes.[LNB]"We should have been more direct but we brought trouble on ourselves and they took advantage of it.[LNB]"We talked before the game how we would be positive and obviously the first 10 minutes were not what we wanted but I prefer to talk about the next 80."[LNB]Celtic and Rapid both dropped out of the competition but Mowbray insisted his players showed enough to suggest they could hold their own in the Champions League if they qualify for the tournament next season.[LNB]"There is nothing in front of us that we need fear," he said.[LNB]"As we move on as a team, develop and grow together, it is something that we would look positively towards.[LNB]"Hopefully in the Champions League campaign next year, we can go there without too much trepidation.[LNB]"We've showed that we can play football at a European level and we look forward to the challenge of next year.[LNB]"But first and foremost we have to carry on with the consistency that we have shown in the last month or so in the SPL."[LNB]Rapid coach Peter Pacult claimed to have enjoyed the Europa League campaign even though his side ended up losing a three-goal lead in front of their own fans.[LNB]He said: "I am happy with the experience.[LNB]"We have had a hard four months playing three games a week but I won't think 'what if?'[LNB]"We have great fans and have had some great travels so we need to work hard to make sure we are there again next season."[LNB]Caddis, in as replacement for number one right-back Andreas Hinkel, insists the Hoops could and should have taken all three points in the end.[LNB]He said: "It was good to get a game but it wasn't the best of starts for us.[LNB]"However, we showed good character to come back from three goals down.[LNB]"At 3-0, there was determination or maybe we were afraid, in a positive way, of getting beat by more goals but we have a lot of big characters in the team who pulled us through.[LNB]"When you are 3-0 down you have to keep pushing and we created a lot of chances and I think we might have won the game."[LNB][LNB]
