Celts striker insists Bhoys can cut it

GEORGIOS SAMARAS believes there ISN'T a lack of quality at Parkhead and insists it's in the players' hands to lift themselves off the floor.

Manager Tony Mowbray blamed the defeat to Hamburg in the Europa League on Thursday on a lack of quality in his side in comparison to their opponents, rather than any lack of confidence.

Celtic are on a downer which has seen them win only three of their last nine games.

Hoops hitman Samaras says the fact Celtic lifted three titles in the last four seasons as well as three other Cup wins proves the current crop of players do have what it takes to succeed.

The Greek striker, who was benched for the defeat by the Germans said: "We've been three years with more or less the same team. We won the title two years ago, we won the Cup last year and we were close to winning the title as well. Most of the lads here have won three in a row.

"I think there are qualities in our team. The team is almost exactly the same as last year.

"Of the 18 players in the squad on Thursday, the only new guy was Landry N'Guemo. We are the same team, we just need to push ourselves a bit more to get the results.

"The quality, in my opinion, is certainly there but we must impose ourselves to prove that.

"On Thursday everyone was disappointed by the result. The only thing we can do is keep our heads up, try to learn from our mistakes and be more positive for the next game."

Samaras shot down suggestions that he might be suffering a confidence crisis after scoring only one SPL goal this season. He said: "Personally I am feeling well. I feel good in myself, and that's important.

"We need to learn from our mistakes and be focused from the first minute to the last. We must pass the ball better, try to have more crosses into the box, try to create more chances and score goals.

"We are Celtic and our destiny is to win every game and to play attacking football. If we play attacking football and lose we've at least tried to do so something good.

"It's up to us to impose ourselves on other teams more. I don't know what the manager's thinking is, I can't go inside his head. I don't think there's anything wrong on that front. We don't have a problem with him, that's for sure. If I'm left out of the team, as long as I feel well, I know my chance will come whether it's for 20

minutes or 10 minutes. When the opportunity comes you have to prove you're good enough to start the next game.

"It's up to the manager, he makes those decisions, but he knows I'm here, I'm feeling well and I'm hoping to help Celtic to win games. That's the important thing. The only thing is for the team to play well. It's not important how one player performs, the team is the important thing."

Celtic have the chance to bounce back from their wretched run at New Douglas Park today against Hamilton - a side who haven't beaten them in 20 years.

Samaras added: "All the games are important, whether you are playing Hamilton or Hamburg. Trust me, they aren't easy games, they're difficult ones in which we'll have to be focused to win.

"I expect our run of results to end, without a doubt. We can't continue like this.

"Marc-Antoine Fortune will hopefully be back next week and he's an important player for us. I hope he'll have a healthy run because that will help the team." Celtic's fans have greeted the last two home games - in both of which their team have failed to score - with a mixture of apathy and anger.

Samaras insists the crowd reaction isn't having an effect on them. He said: "When you are playing football, you don't listen to the crowd. You stay focused on the pitch because if you listen to the crowd, whether it's negative or positive, then your feelings can be a little bit affected.

"Personally, I don't hear the reaction of the crowd, I just try to be focused on my game."

Samaras scored a spectacular goal in the 5-2 win over Latvia which saw Greece through to the World Cup play-offs but has struggled to carry that form into the domestic game.

He admitted: "I had a really good game against Latvia with my national team. It was an important game for us but when you come back you have to play for Celtic and that's up to the manager. The only thing I can do is work really hard to prove that I'm a first-team player.

"Even if I'm not playing here, it won't be a problem for Greece for the play-offs, not at all."

This article has 2 comments