Celtic coach Ange Postecoglou said his team must have a “stronger mentality” and play for more than survival after Wednesday’s 3-1 Champions League defeat at RB Leipzig (5 October).
Two goals from Andre Silva and another from Nkunku gave Celtic their second defeat in three games in Group F. The Scottish champions host Leipzig in Glasgow on Tuesday.
“To get over that hump, to be a good team and to get results, we need to have a stronger faith and mentality, but it’s not easy, it comes with experience,” said Postecoglou.
“We have to stay really positive in our mindset and in the way we play our football. If we do that, we’ll give ourselves a better chance.”
“If you play to survive, that’s all you’ll ever get, you never get anywhere.”
Celtic suffered a heavy blow during the game when captain Callum McGregor had to be substituted in the 37th minute.
“He pinched his knee on the first goal and made a tremendous effort to come back and it was his toe poke that played through (nkunku). It doesn’t look good but we’ll see what the doctors say,” Postecoglou added.
There was bad news for Leipzig too: captain and goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi suffered a serious knee injury.
The Hungarian national player has torn a cruciate ligament in his right knee and will be out for a long time, the club said.