ANGE POSTECOGLOU has denied that Celtic’s Champions League exit is a ‘catastrophe’, and says that this is just the start of the club’s journey under his management.

Postecoglou was proud of the effort his players put in during their defeat to Midtjylland, and with new signings like Carl Starfelt and Kyogo Furuhashi now joining the squad, he believes that things will start to look up for the club at last from here.

“I don’t know what your definition of catastrophic is but it certainly doesn’t fit my definition of what happened tonight,” Postecoglou said.

“It’s obviously disappointing we didn’t get through but I can’t fault the effort of the players. They worked their socks off.

“I thought we controlled the game, had the chance to go 2-0 up and then straight away they scored and we lost a bit of momentum.

“We just looked a bit tired at the end and lacked a bit of energy to get back into the game.

“But catastrophic to me means the end. This is far from the end.

“If you’re suggesting that this is a club falling apart and our season is finished, I don’t see it that way. 

“Yes, it’s absolutely disappointing and Champions League football is a priority here. But, as I said, I can’t ask any more of the players. They did everything they could.

“We have a league campaign starting on Saturday and our focus shifts to that and getting off to a good start.”

Postecoglou says the defeat hasn’t made him think he has bitten off more than he can chew in Glasgow.

“I knew it was a challenge,” he said.

“I just had to look at the difference in the player list from last season to this season.

“It was quite obvious. But I thought it was an opportunity for me because at least I could bring in the players I want.

“So I wasn’t thinking this would be a position where I’d come in and would just need to tinker with things. I knew we needed to rebuild things. But that’s where I saw the opportunity.

“Now it’s one of those where I need to shoulder into the wheel a bit further and make sure things get done so we can begin this process pf getting this club back to where it should be.”