Progress pleases Strachan
05 Dec 2007 - 07:59:40
Celtic boss Gordon Strachan was a relieved man after seeing his side make it through to the last 16 of the Champions League despite a 1-0 defeat at AC Milan.
A Pippo Inzaghi strike proved decisive in the San Siro, but Shakhtar Donetsk's 2-1 home loss to Benfica ensured that the Bhoys progressed anyway.
Strachan said: "It's a fantastic achievement to go through to the next round. It was a tough group.
"I think after first two games you would have thought Shakhtar were favourites to go through and Milan are a fantastic club.
"I thought the game was dead because the game in the first half was dead and it came a little bit to life after the goal. It was a bit like the atmosphere, it was dead and it's difficult for the players and for the coach to deal with that.
"I was okay until Milan scored, then I got worried but I eventually got some thumbs up from several people and I knew everything was okay.
"I think the next level for us is to be a force away in Europe. I need to find that out and do something about that. We have to get better whether it's at home or away."