Source: FOOTYMAD
Pre-season time to gel
Mark Wilson knows the squad have to up their game from the start Mark Wilson knows the team must hit the ground running next season if they want to improve on the success factors at home and abroad. Celtic have an busy start to the a season with Europa League qualifiers to contend with, as well as an early start to the league this year. And Wilson hopes the pre-season trip to Australia will ensure Celtic are in top form to make an impact in Europe and build a solid foundation for the title challenge in the season ahead. He said: "At other clubs you want to get off to a flying start but it's not as important as it is at Celtic, where you have to hit the ground running, win your first game and go on a run from the first minute. At other teams, you might get away with losing or drawing the first few and make up for it in the season. We have to start fast and win every game we possibly can. The pre-season is one of the most important parts of the season as it gets you ready for a long year ahead. You really have got to choose the right place to go and the manger and the coaching staff feel Australia is the right place for us to go to prepare for what is going to be a really important season." Celtic travel to Australia to take on A-League sides Central Coast Mariners, Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory in the space of 11 days. Wilson said: "It will be a good test. In pre-season, the games will always be difficult for us because it's very hard getting back into it. That's always been the case. It will be a very good test and well worthwhile going out there, with the Europa League qualifiers which will be coming up. I thought America last year was great as we had a few new boys in and a few younger lads made the step up. We went away for nearly two weeks and it really brought the team together. This time, there will be one or two new signings again and we will be away for two-and a half weeks, so it's great and gets the boys together, although at the end you feel you are in each other's faces all the time. But I think you need that to get to know each other's game and also to get to know each other personally as well." Wilson believes the trip will also help new signings Kelvin Wilson and Adam Matthews, as well as last year's recruits, appreciate the club's worldwide appeal. He said: "It's a good chance for the fans out that way to see us as they don't often get a chance to see us, apart from TV. I have been fortunate enough to see so many places and the affect the club has on people in the far reaches of the world and how we always seem to have a massive fan base everywhere. But the boys who have just joined, or joined us last summer, might not quite realise how big we are in these far flung parts. In Australia there are a lot of Scottish and Irish people so there will be a big following. It will be good for these boys to see how big we are."
