Sviatchenko: We can cry about losing or go win the league

Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenko says everyone connected to Celtic has two options following yesterday’s defeat in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Sviatchenko believes that although everyone is devastated by the penalty shootout loss to Rangers, they can’t afford to dwell on it as there is still a league title to be won.

The Hoops need eight points from their remaining five league games in order to clinch the Premiership title ahead of Aberdeen and Sviatchenko says that must be the sole focus now the chance of a double has gone.

As reported by the Daily Mail, he said:

Now we were really close. It went to penalties. We bounced back but of course it’s a massive disappointment not to go through. Sometimes you play well and sometimes you play not so well. On Sunday, we did not succeed in all the things we wanted to.

But we have five finals in the Premiership. It’s difficult to say that we need to move on but we have two options – one is to go home and cuddle ourselves and cry. But I won’t accept that. I will go with the other option, which is to bounce back and win the league title.

The 24-year-old also dismissed any speculation that the players had lost faith in manager Ronny Deila is wide of the mark despite them having lost two semi-finals this season when they were favourites in both games.

I am 100 per cent behind the manager. I won’t comment on anything else. This is a massive club but it’s the players’ game and it us who need to win the matches and we are all behind the manager.

We will be behind everyone that needs it. But the guys in the team are all strong characters and they will bounce back. At this stage it’s quite tough but we are all behind each other and we just need to move on and show character and attitude.

The Norwegian is still in charge of Celtic for now and the team must bounce back from the cup exit and avoid any slip ups on the way to securing fifth consecutive league title.

Celtic are in action again on Sunday against Ross County with the chance to at least maintain their eight-point lead over Aberdeen.