Scott Bain has revealed that Celtic players have licence to vary tactics during a game.
Thursday’s 2-0 defeat from Valencia brought a mountain of criticism that the hoops got bogged down playing passes across the back which invited trouble.
With Kieran Tierney and Filip Benkovic involved that type of passing game is possible but their replacements looked awkward and uncomfortable trying to play the ball out from the back.
Against St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup Celtic were able to take their time on the ball but Bain insists that the players aren’t forced to play one way.
“We always have permission to go slightly longer if it’s on,” the keeper told The Sun. “But I thought we played out from the back well, and we just got a bit sloppy at the end of the first half.
“There are other things to learn from as well, like the atmosphere and how to handle the occasion. We were just a little sloppy in the first half with our passing.
“Valencia are a really good side, they are well organised and they waited for us to make mistakes. They pounced when we did.
“We kept the ball really well in the first 20 minutes and moved it well, but on that stage you get punished. Valencia were waiting for a mistake, and they are a really good side who play their formation really well.
“It’s something we will learn from for the next game. Valencia had great quality. You see the ball that was played in for the second goal. It was a hard one to swallow as I felt we could have taken something out if it, but we still go into the second-leg confident of getting something.”
Those two Valencia goals were the first that Celtic have lost this year with Bain stepping in for Craig Gordon.
The former Dundee keeper has made a big impact on the team, becoming a play-maker from the back as well as a shot stopper.
Tomorrow he will get his first taste of plastic as a Celtic player when he visits Rugby Park before Thursday’s return tie with Valencia.