STEPHEN WELSH insists Celtic are making positive progress as they continue their preparations for the start of the competitive league season.
Ange Postecoglou’s side get their Scottish Premiership campaign underway a week on Sunday against Aberdeen and have just one pre-season game remaining, as Norwich visit Parkhead on Saturday.
Celtic blew a two-goal lead to Legia Warsaw tonight in a farewell clash for goalkeeper Artur Boruc.
But for defender Welsh, who played 80 minutes, there were plenty of positives to take.
He told Celtic TV: “I thought the first half we were excellent in the way we passed the ball and the way we created a lot of chances. We could've scored more goals than we did.
“In the second half I didn't think we were great, their early goal gave them a bit of momentum in the game and I don't think we really got going.
“We need to look at that and try to put two halves together as two strong performances in the first half and second half.
“I'd say the first 45 was probably the best quality we've shown as a team. The way that we played, the way we were moving... I thought we were playing well together.
“As I said, we just need to continue that when we go into the second half and try to build on it. It was a good workout for the boys. We worked hard, we gave 100 per cent and we'll move on to Saturday now.”
Despite the fixtures being billed as friendlies, pre-season matches are important for Welsh, and he is confident that he and his teammates will be fully up to speed and raring to go against Aberdeen on the opening day.
He added: “It's just trying to get into that rhythm again. We've had four or five pre-season games and I think I've played in four of them so it's just getting into the rhythm as the games are going to come thick and fast.
“We've got Aberdeen in 10 days [July 31]. We're very much looking forward to that. We need to be raring to go and we need to get it properly right on Saturday against Norwich.
“We need to start games a bit better as well - we've been a bit slow starting both halves and just keep playing our football. That's what the gaffer implements, he wants us to play our football. In the first half I thought we did that really well.”
