tony mowbray on the huddle online

Gregor Kyle
THE players returned to training on Thursday and began preparations for three league games in an intense, seven-day period.

Tony Mowbray was, as always, at Lennoxtown bright and early and spoke about the importance of finding a balance between work and play in his weekly, exclusive interview on The Huddle Online (Thursday, March 18).

“I have to make sure that everything is done properly and is disciplined,” said the manager. “We have to make sure that the players are aware that we have their welfare at heart and are trying to make sure that they are in best frame of mind for football matches, as well as physically ready to play.

“There is always a balance there,” he continued. “You can’t train them every single day and run them into the ground.

“They have to be happy and content with the preparation for football matches and sometimes, off the back of an intense run of fixtures and important games, it’s not bad to relieve the pressure on them and get them away from the training ground for a few days.”

St Johnstone are the visitors to Celtic Park on Saturday and the manager knows it will be a tough game for his side.

“They have different types of player and can play in different ways,” he said. “Any team that is coming up from the division below us is going to need time to adjust and get used to the environment and St Johnstone seem to have found their feet.

“They’ve had some very good results over the past few weeks and will come to Celtic Park in confidence, having won their last couple of games.”

The manager also spoke about the lessons learned from Barcelona’s outstanding UEFA Champions League win last night, while the show also has coverage of Neil Lennon’s Celtic XI’s game against Sunderland, as well as his reaction to the result.

We also go back to March 18, 2001 and the day that the first piece of a historic treble was put in place. And we have another look at the contenders for goal of the season.

You can send me your questions, comments and suggestions for the show at gregor@celticfc.com

And, for more information on how to sign up for Channel 67 and watch tonight’s Huddle Online, click HERE