Source: Team_Talk
Mowbs asks for time to 'build' squad
The 1-0 defeat by Hamburg in the Europa League on Thursday left the Parkhead club bottom of Group C with one point from three games and facing the prospect of a European exit before the end of the year.
Running parallel to their poor results in Europe, indifferent form in the Scottish Premier League has seen Celtic lose their lead at the top of the table to Old Firm rivals Rangers.
Mowbray has questioned his players' quality in recent weeks and that criticism was especially stinging after the defeat by Hamburg when he warned that he will get rid of those squad members who do not come up to scratch.
However, speaking in less animated tones in the pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's trip to play Hamilton in the SPL, the Celtic boss revealed one of his visions.
"I don't think it's crime to say that we are trying to improve," he said.
"It's right for me to want to improve the team and improve the players so that three years down the line, when we go to Old Trafford, they are worried, they are concerned.
"They are not making a few changes because they genuinely feel this team can come and win. So that's what I want to try and build."
Mowbray back-tracked a little on his threat of making wholesale changes in the New Year, claiming that he has more than enough quality in his present squad to recapture the SPL title from Ibrox.
"We can sit here and wait with bated breath for January but January can come and go and nothing can happen," the former West Brom boss said.
"It depends on the availability of footballers.
"Players might not be available or affordable.
"The board have been very supportive, we have a very good working relationship.
"They are looking for value and if the right player comes along then I think we will be in the market, whether it's a free transfer or whether that player costs a few millions pounds.
"All I'm trying to get across is that there is a desire to improve our playing squad.
"It can happen out on the training ground or it can happen from bringing new players in.
"Every club strives to improve.
"Can we afford not to bring anyone in? It depends what your objectives are.
"But this group of players are more than capable of winning the title.
"If you were at Ibrox two or three weeks ago, I don't think we came away from the game thinking we have a long way to go, I think we cam away thinking we were hard done by.
"We could have won and maybe deserved to win.
"Are we short on quality regarding the rest of the SPL? I don't think so.
"We have more quality than them."
