Source: Team_Talk
Strachan tells Gus to keep head up
The SPL champions bounced back to form in spectacular fashion against the Buddies, albeit with the Paisley side having to play for an hour with 10 men after defender Jack Ross was sent off.
After regaining top spot in the SPL with a 2-1 win at Kilmarnock on Wednesday, Celtic are firm favourites to make it a league and cup double over the Saints when they travel to St Mirren Park in the quarter-finals of the Homecoming Scottish Cup.
Strachan, however, looked back at one managerial lesson he learned from his former boss Sir Alex Ferguson to put MacPherson's recent misery in to context.
"I would think that they would want to play better than they did last week, but the circumstances were against them," said the former Coventry and Southampton boss.
"We got the breaks on the day and we capitalised.
"But what they can't do is try any harder than they have been trying for Gus during the time he has been there.
"Gus has got the maximum out of his players, and there is nothing to be embarrassed about.
"You can't be embarrassed by one game.
"If you take their performances over the last two or three years, then they must be very proud of what they've done.
"Everybody has been where Gus has been; everyone has been on the receiving end of one of those results.
"We [Southampton] lost six goals to Manchester United at Old Trafford in a game where they stuck on the subs ... Beckham and Giggs.
"I was thinking, 'oh, this could be trouble.'
"So I've been there.
"I understand exactly how managers feel, and it's good for them to feel every sort of emotion when they are new to the game so that they understand what is going on."
Strachan will not offer tips to MacPherson on how to deal with his side's recent mauling. But the Celtic boss is at pains to stress his players will pay little heed to last week's stroll when they make their first appearance at St Mirren's new ground.
He said: "I'm not going to tell Gus what he has to do.
"There are certain ways of dealing with it. Managers are different, and I've seen that - managers bringing you in the next day and running you around the track in the pouring rain just to make them feel better.
"So there are different ways of dealing with it.
"But my players know it's going to be completely different.
"They know they played well at times last week but they also know that they got the breaks at the right time. They don't need to be told."
Lee Naylor's continuing calf problem means Darren O'Dea will again fill in at left-back.
The young Irish stopper has struggled to find a place in Strachan's side in recent years but has not been able to persuade the Parkhead boss to allow him to find regular first-team football with a loan deal.
Strachan reiterated his belief that O'Dea remains an important part of his plans.
He said: "Darren always impresses me, and I think everyone knows how highly I rate him. He must be really pleased with himself.
"He has a drive and determination that will take him far in the game.
"He is adding to his ability and is intelligent. He has a future at Celtic."
