JONNY Hayes has insisted that Celtic will learn the lessons from their Europa League exit – once they have given the domestic campaign their full focus.
Brendan Rodgers’ side went out of the tournament after an aggregate 3-0 defeat to Valencia, but the performance last night in Spain was far more spirited than what had been anticipated after a sloppy first leg.
READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers: The referee took the game away from Celtic
Celtic will return to domestic duties against Motherwell on Sunday afternoon as they chase a treble treble with Hayes resolving to concentrate on that before absorbing the lessons from this season’s European campaign.
“We have had some difficult ties,” said the Irishman. “It is always enjoyable to be in Europe bit a club this size we want to be even better. We will concentrate on our domestic season and nest time in Europe try to be a bit more prepared.”
And the fullback echoed Rodgers’ sentiments as he spoke of Jeremy Toljan’s soft red-card that altered the course of the game in Valencia.
“It is always going to be difficult going down to ten men,” said Hayes. “We knew what it meant to a lot of people who had travelled out here.
“We had bodies on the line, we were trying our best and everyone gave 100%. It was difficult. Circumstances changed but I thought with the game plan, it was comfortable in the first half. I haven’t seen the sending off but it looked to be soft at first viewing and it changed the game for us.
“I haven’t seen it back so I would need to see it back to say anything but it is a tough game and especially when we get that sending off it becomes even harder.
READ MORE: Valencia 1 Celtic 0: Five things we learned
“We tried to stay in it for as long as we could but it was always going to be difficult. 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.”
READ MORE: How Celtic rated as they salvage pride but head out of Europe after Valencia defeat
Kristoffer Ajer, who acquitted himself well, had a glorious opportunity to pull Celtic back into the tie when he headed a Ryan Christie free-kick wide. It came on the back of a first half opportunity that had landed at the young defender’s feet.
“In the first-half I had good contact and it was unlucky to hit the Valencia player and the second one was huge as well,” he admitted. “You need one of them to have a chance in this game and unfortunately it didn’t happen today.
“The manager put out a really clear plan and we did really well until the sending off. Then it got really tough. We put up a good plan for the second half as well and gave it a good go but it was always going to be a really tough game against Valencia.”
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