Jonny Hayes didn’t take much consolation from his own performance as Celtic crashed out of Europe to Valencia.
The former Aberdeen winger enjoyed the rarity of starting back-to-back matches when he lined up to face Valencia and was inspired rather than intimidated by playing in the Mestalla.
Scott Sinclair made way as Hayes was picked on the left- as an attacking midfielder when Celtic had 11 players but withdrawn to a traditional left-back after Jeremy Toljan was sent off.
It was quite a shift put in by the 10 remaining players with Valencia eventually making the breakthrough in the 70th minute when substitute Kevin Gameiro netted from close range.
“We tried to stay in it for as long as we could but it was always going to be difficult,” Hayes told the Evening Times. “We had a man down and it was difficult to play our game plan and put pressure on the ball. The number 10 had a lot of time. We were defending in our numbers, they had an overload and a decent ball in and they score.
“It was a bit deflating but we tried to pick ourselves up and go again. We knew coming out of here that three goals would be needed so the goal didn’t really change that. We had a difficult task but we tried our best.”
After going the extra mile in Valencia Brendan Rodgers is likely to freshen up his side for the visit of Motherwell which could see the return of Kieran Tierney at left-back.
With trips to Hearts and Hibs following over the course of seven days Celtic’s domestic aspirations will be put to the test as they step down from the heights of the Europa League.
