Celtic possess a laser-like mentality monster in Giorgos Giakoumakis

The laser-like focus remains at Celtic. Manager Ange Postecoglou has drummed that mentality into his players at least.

No sooner had they been knocked out of European competition this season when the BT Sport mic was thrust into Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis's face for TV duty.

Giakoumakis didn't dwell on the crushing disappointment of another Euro exit. The 27-year-old to his credit turned the whole perceived negative into one giant positive.

His laser-like focus had already switched from European football to domestic dominance. He immediately targeted winning a second consecutive league title in order to regain automatic entry into the Champions League group stages again.

The £2.5million hitman from VVV Venlo achieved his dream as a kid growing up when he netted for the first time at the Champions League level during Celtic's 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donestk at Parkhead on Wednesday night.

It wasn't enough to save his side from falling through European football's trapdoor though. A bottom-place finish in Group F was not what Giakoumakis and co. had come for.

It may have been the Greek's 25th goal in 45 appearances for Celtic and also his 21st goal in 20 starts for the club - but none of that mattered to him.

"It is clear if we want to be in the biggest competition in Europe again, then we must win the league," Giakoumakis said. "That is our first target again, and then next year, we can play some games again in the Champions League.

"Of course, we are planning from these games, we need to correct our mistakes so we can come back bigger and stronger next season."

Much like the Champions League theme tune, Giakoumakis's words will have been music to every Celtic supporter's ears.

If you cast your mind back to last February it was he who caused a stir when he declared that Celtic were a better team than Rangers in every department.

The striker had just bagged a hat-trick in a 3-2 win over Dundee after the Ibrox side had dropped points to Dundee United earlier in the day.

Giakoumakis caused a right Scottish football stooshie when he said: "It is something that gives us bigger motivation - but sometimes it also gives you a little bit of pressure if you know the bad result of your opponents.

"So we showed that we're a better team, that's obvious, we showed that we work harder on the field. And I think that we will win the championship. I think we're better in every single part of the team."

He spoke his mind then and he still speaks his mind to this day. It was an invaluable insight into what Giakoumakis was thinking there and then.

It was Postecoglou himself who said that he actively encourages his players to speak freely when they are on media duty.

Giakoumakis didn't care much for any repercussions then. It is an attitude that is refreshing in a high-profile footballer. 

He was proven correct in the end as Celtic did go on and win the Scottish Premiership title. They were better than Rangers.

Few would bet against him being proven right once again in this season's title race. 

Having laser-like focus is defined as: "Laser-focused people know that real progress starts with being able to concentrate on one thing at a time. Just like a laser beam can concentrate a lot of light on one small area, laser-focused people can put a lot of energy into completing one crucial task well."

If Celtic are to become serial participants in the Champions League group stages then they first need to win the Scottish Premiership title... again.

Postecoglou and his men's laser-like focus will now be trained on regaining their league crown starting away to Livingston in West Lothian on Sunday.

Celtic as a team will put a lot of energy into trying to complete that one crucial task well.

When Giakoumakis gave his TV interview and was being questioned about yet another crushing European disappointment for the club his mind was already clearly elsewhere.

It was on winning the Scottish Premiership title and helping Celtic get back to try again next year in the Champions League group stages. It was front-row access to his unbelievably strong mindset and character.

Real progress starts with being able to concentrate on one thing at a time. Giakoumakis knows it - and he possesses that quality in abundance.

Rather like his keen eye for goals, Giakoumakis clearly has a laser-like focus when it comes to Celtic's thirst for glory.

This piece is an extract from today’s Celtic Digest newsletter, which is emailed out every weekday evening with a round-up of the day's top stories and exclusive analysis from The Celtic Way team.

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