Mowbray backs Celtic to bounce back from Euro misery

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray wants his players to use the pain of their Champions League exit against Arsenal to spark a charge for the Scottish Premier League title.

Mowbray’s side crashed out of Europe’s top club competition in the final qualifying round on Wednesday as Arsenal cruised to a 5-1 aggregate victory over the Glasgow outfit.

The disappointment of failing to qualify for the lucrative group stage was made all the more galling by the nature of Arsenal’s first goal.

Eduardo won and converted a first half penalty that put the tie beyond Celtic with a dive that looks set to earn a ban from UEFA after European football’s governing body opened disciplinary proceeding against the Croatia forward.

But Mowbray knows Celtic can’t afford to dwell on the defeat as they try to keep pace with champions Rangers at the top of the table.

The Hoops face Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday and Mowbray is hopeful that his team will put their chastening experience in north London to positive effect.

“I would suggest there are only four teams in the English Premier League of the quality of Arsenal,” Mowbray said.

“You have to take the positives out of the way we played in these two matches.

“I expect us to compete very well in the Europa League and in the Scottish league.”

Meanwhile, Mowbray expects both club captain Stephen McManus and midfielder Scott Brown to remain at Celtic despite speculation linking them with moves to England.

“I have no problem with people being interested in our players, but what I would suggest, from my understanding, is Stephen McManus would have no interest in going to Ipswich Town,” said Mowbray, himself once in charge at Portman Road.

“He is captain of our club and wants to get himself back into our team.

“Real Madrid may be interested in one of our players but that does not mean he is going.”

Mowbray also confirmed that he is set to sign South Korea international Ki Sung-yong in the January transfer window.

The 20-year-old FC Seoul midfielder will join at the end of the K-League season.

However, Italian midfielder Massimo Donati is set to complete his move to Bari before the transfer window shuts.