Celtic coach John Kennedy defends zonal marking after defeat by Malmo

Celtic coach John Kennedy offered up a defence of zonal marking in the wake of the Hoops' dismal European exit to Malmo.

Celtic coach John Kennedy offered up a defence of zonal marking in the wake of the Hoops' dismal European exit to Malmo.

The Parkhead men failed to learn their lesson against the Swedish side after losing a late goal from a corner in the first leg of their Champion League play-off in Glasgow.

Celtic still travelled to the Swedbank stadion for the return game on Tuesday night with a 3-2 advantage but another two goals conceded from corners saw them exit the competition on a 4-3 aggregate.

Former Hoops' defender Kennedy, speaking at Hampden Park after the Scottish League Cup draw paired holders Celtic with Raith Rovers in the third-round, explained the thought process behind the marking system employed by Ronny Deila's side.

He said: "There's always debate about zonal and man marking and it will go on for ever more.

"With the height and presence we have in the team, zonal marking has worked for us. It doesn't make it wrong because of one game.

"When you concede from man marking someone points the finger and says 'it's his fault.'

"But no one takes into consideration the team might have two players blocking the man who is trying to mark a player.

"If you go man for man it is easy to get blocks and you can take our biggest defenders out of the areas where the other team are going to put a ball in.

"Whereas with zonal, we know pretty much where the ball is going to go, we can protect the most dangerous area of the box and put our best headers of the ball in there.

"It failed for us the other night but it doesn't make it wrong.

"We had a fabulous record last year and it was obviously disappointing to concede three over two legs.

"But if you look at the whole performance, in the second leg especially, it wasn't like us.

"We have been performing of late with a real confidence and desire to attack and score goals.

"We were lacking that the other night and we have to take responsibility for that as a coaching team and players."

Celtic drop down to the Europa League but Kennedy insists the focus on domestic competition will remain strong, regardless of which European competition Celtic play in.

"You want a home tie and we got it," he said of the Raith draw.

"Regardless of being in the Champions League or not, we would still approach these games in the same manner.

"We want to win everything.

"We are bitterly disappointed with the result against Malmo but we have to get over that."

Kris Commons denies Celtic played with fear against Malmo

Kris Commons has denied Ronny Deila's claims that Celtic played with fear when crashing out of the Champions League to Malmo.

Kris Commons has denied Ronny Deila's claims that Celtic played with fear when crashing out of the Champions League to Malmo.

The Hoops' 2-0 defeat at the raucous Swedbank Stadion on Tuesday sent the home side through 4-3 on aggregate with the Parkhead manager surprising many by describing his side as "scared."

But Commons, who replaced Stuart Armstrong for the start of the second half with Celtic trailing 1-0 and having had a goal by Nir Bitton controversially chalked off, was at odds with the Norwegian as to the reasons for the defeat.

"I wouldn't say it was fear," Commons said.

"I don't think we played with fear. When you've just got the one goal you're thinking that if you can get a clean sheet or draw then you're through, so it's a completely different outlook.

"They came into the game knowing that they needed a goal, whereas as we were trying to do just enough to keep a clean sheet.

"But if we had come in at half-time at 1-1, when we scored from a corner, then it puts a completely different complexion on the game. But it wasn't to be.

"Balls weren't quite falling for us and we got done by a couple of set-pieces."

The former Derby and Nottingham Forest player denied personally feeling the pressure.

"No, I didn't feel stressed," he said.

"I think it's a stressful night because you know what's waiting for you if you get through, but coming here with a one-goal lead put a big importance on the first goal.

"It wasn't to be. They took their chances and certainly put us under pressure."

While the Champions League post-mortem gets under way, Commons turned his sights on winning the domestic treble as well as going on a run in the Europa League, with the draw for that competition due on Friday.

The playmaker said: "It's difficult to take, very difficult but we'll be looking to go further in the Europa League, we'll be taking a keen interest in that.

"And then everyone will be talking about the treble - so let's try and win the league and the cups.

"There's a lot to play for this year, there's a lot of disappointment this week, but the season is just beginning so hopefully we can maintain our league form and kick on."

Gary Mackay-Steven admits Celtic will need to improve if they are to make their mark in the Europa League.

The former Dundee United winger told the club's official website: "It's still a big competition.

"The Champions League is obviously where we wanted to play but that's gone now and the Europa League is the next big thing, so we'll need to focus.

"There are a lot of great teams in the tournament and we want to improve ourselves on the European stage.

"There are still big European games to look forward to but our performances definitely need to improve."