As Celtic unveiled Tony Mowbray as Gordon Strachan’s successor, the former Hoops defender revealed he intends to build a side that is ‘feared and respected’ not only in Scotland, but on the European stage as well.
However, when asked to define the meaning of success and his main goal, Mowbray was very forthright in explaining his main objective for the side and where he will take his inspiration from.
“I would like to build a team that can compete at all levels,” said Mowbray. “I would like to build a team that is not only feared and respected in the Scottish game but also feared and respected in Europe.
“And that is a process you’ve got to build.
“I like to think I’m a student of the game, I watch a lot of European footballers and yet there are teams that can punch above their weight in Europe and I think Celtic do financially.
“There are some major, major powers in the game now with major resources and what this football club has to do – and I’ve got to try and help – is put together a football team that can punch above its weight on the European stage.
“And those nights here at Celtic Park when the lights are on and some of the bigger sides have come to play, they have got to fear us a little bit and realise that when we have the ball we can give them major problems, then we have got to be organised and disciplined in possession and I think at the top end of the game that is what it’s all about really.
“There are not better classic examples of this recently than Barcelona and their brand of football and the diminutive footballers they have.
“There are certain elements in the game that will tell you if you’re not six foot four and can run like the wind and be as strong as an ox then you can’t be a footballer and yet you watch in awe of [Andres] Iniesta, Xavi and [Lionel], Messi, I understand that’s what football is all about.
“And without trying to write any headlines, that inspires me – I need inspiring as well as the supporters need inspiring – and when I watch teams like that when I watch Spain, when I watch Barcelona and when I watch great technical players and teams, I try to recreate that if possible.
“What I’m saying is the best football teams are a unit and a group of individuals who understand their role within the team, and that’s only achieved out on the training ground and with the demands you put on them day-in-day-out.
“That is what we hope to work towards is to have a team that can on those nights under the lights at Parkhead that when any team comes here and when they’re out of possession of the ball, be fearful of a Celtic team attacking.”