International Squads Are Nothing New

Lubomir Moravcik does not think that Celtic finding themselves in their current predicament has anything to do with the multi-national make up of their squad. Manager Tony Mowbray sent out a starting line-up against Falkirk on Sunday without any players eligible for Scotland after he added seven foreigners to his first-team squad in January. Scotland internationals Paul Hartley, Barry Robson and Gary Caldwell, who were key in Celtic's most recent title triumph in 2008, have left Parkhead since Mowbray took charge with club captain Stephen McManus going out on loan to Middlesbrough last month. Celtic began 2010 seven points behind SPL leaders Rangers having played a game less. However, what a difference a couple of months make, the gap has extended to 13 points on Tuesday when the Ibrox side won at Kilmarnock to make full use of their game in hand. Moravcik feels an international dressing room is no barrier to success. The former midfield playmaker said: "It's not a problem. Look at Arsenal, no English players except maybe (Theo) Walcott and (Sol) Campbell is now back. Even in my time we had 15 nationalities in the dressing room. It's not a problem, it's just a problem finding a good player, not where they come from. Fans just want to see good football."

Moravcik took little time to settle at Parkhead when he arrived in 1998, scoring twice in a 5-1 victory in his first Old Firm game. But he realises that Celtic are in a different situation to the successful times he went on to enjoy under Martin O'Neill. The Slovakian said: "I don't like to compare teams because I played almost 10 years ago here and the situation in European football has changed. Ten years change a lot of things - TV rights have gone higher in England, Spain and even in France. It's very hard for Scottish clubs to keep high salaries for big names. Rangers and Celtic try to do the best possible but you can see it's not good enough for European competition."

Moravcik knows the pressure Mowbray will be working under. He has abandoned any plans for a coaching career after lasting less than a season in charge of Slovakian top-flight outfit FC Vion Zlate Moravce. He believes Mowbray needs and deserves time to achieve success. Moravcik went on: "It's hard to be a coach. You can imagine how many players finish their careers, there is not an opportunity for everyone. I had six months and I was sacked. That's football. I would like to have had more time to do something. After six months it's difficult, even after one year. It depends how passionate the manager is and the situation with the directors and fans. I don't know why results are like this and whether the fans are happy. It's not always the manager who is totally responsible for results, even though he has a big responsibility. You have to analyse very deeply."