Celtic go into tonight's Europa League Group C game against leaders Hapoel Tel Aviv with a record they could do without. The Glasgow side are bottom of the pool on two points, five behind second-placed Hamburg. At the pre-game press conference, a downbeat Parkhead manager Tony Mowbray admits qualification for the knockout stages of the Europa League would now be an unexpected bonus. He know that his side have to win their last two games, against  Hapoel tonight and Rapid Vienna later in the month, while hoping Hamburg lose both of their games. This is a scenario that Mowbray is not expecting to transpire. He said: "The focus is on winning the last two games and, for the bigger picture, just to keep winning football matches, keeping the confidence high and see where the season takes us. We will be as competitive as we have been in the other games and, if the opportunities come along, hopefully we will take them. Victory would send us into Saturday (against Aberdeen) looking forward to the game and hopefully three points against another set of tough opponents. The consistency of winning helps the belief of a team and that goes hand in hand with a bit of luck. You make your own luck and if you are a confident team you probably take a few more opportunities if they come your way."

Celtic's two points were gained from draws against Rapid Vienna and Hamburg. This is not a great return for the investment by the club and fans. Mowbray was asked what the story of the Europa League for Celtic had been from his perspective. He said: "Probably missed opportunities. It's pleasing that we could have won every game. But we haven't and there is the frustration that we haven't taken enough points from the level of performances. Football is about putting the ball in the net and keeping it out at the other end and ultimately we haven't managed to do that. There have been some decent performances without really managing to take advantage of the situation. The first game in Tel Aviv was an opportunity that we let slip through our fingers in the last quarter of an hour. In all the games we have had the opportunity to win the match and yet we have ended up losing a tight game or drawing a game we should have won. But we are where we are."

Meanwhile, when it was his turn in the spotlight, Hapoel Tel Aviv boss Eli Gutman was in a more positive mood. He said: "Celtic are a big club, with tradition and good players. The second 45 minutes when we played them in Tel Aviv in the first game in the section changed things, we pushed and finally won the game 2-1. Let's pass over the game in Hamburg, where we lost, but the two games against Rapid Vienna were excellent, not only the results but the performances were very good. If we get a good result then it will mean a lot to our club."