Poortvliet: We must learn Celtic lesson quickly
2:11am Saturday 19th July 2008
JAN Poortvliet believes his young squad need to learn a big lesson from their 2-0 defeat to Scottish champions Celtic last night.
Although Saints played some attractive football going forward, they were exposed on a number of occasions, especially in the first half, at the back.
Saints' head coach was delighted with the display in the first 20 minutes, but said there was a lot to take on board.
"It was a game where we learnt a lot," he said.
"We need to play simple and think simple.
"The young players want to go out and show their game, with dribbles and one-twos, but sometimes you have to play a bit safer.
"But I was satisfied and I think it will help them all grow up as footballers.
"I think the first 20 minutes were great from us, then after that Celtic were very good.
"The quality is there and now they have to learn to go out and say I'm here' and impose themselves.
"I think in the first 20 minutes they did that, but then Celtic came back and they played an excellent first half."
The game represented Saints' sternest pre-season test and, although the score could have been more, Poortvliet drew plenty of encouragement from the opening spell.
"It was a big test for us and I think they did well, especially in the first 20 minutes," he said.
"We played some great attacking football then, with a lot of passing and movement.
"The only thing we didn't do was make a goal out of it and maybe some of the players need to learn to go for goal themselves a bit more, rather than try to find someone else."
Full story in today's Daily Echo along with five pages of Claus Lundekvam testimonial reports, reaction and pictures.