Everything Ange Postecoglou had to say during his pre-match press conference ahead of Celtic's trip to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid in the Champions League...

Squad update?

Squad-wise from the weekend, Cameron Carter-Vickers pulled up a bit sore from the game on Sunday. The artificial pitch wasn't great for him, so we've left him at home. Everyone else apart from Callum (McGregor) is fit and available. We're looking forward to it.

Did you see enough in the first game against Real Madrid to give you confidence that you can get something tomorrow?

I think the whole Champions League campaign has been a great process for us in understanding what we can bring into these games while also looking at the areas we need to improve on. In every game, we have had our moments, and this came by us playing our football. We also know at this level that the opposition can punish you, and we understand not only the areas where we can make an impact but also the areas we need to be wary of.

How can Celtic bridge the gap between themselves and so-called super clubs?

I think the aim has to be that we are here next year. What I think a club our size cannot do is only qualify for this tournament every three or four years. I think you cannot gain any sort of traction with that sort of absence because part of competing at this level is gaining experience. We have seen with a club like Shakhtar Donetsk that they are consistently in the Champions League, so their players are exposed to it day in and day out. For most of our players this is the first understanding of what it is like to play at this level. It is about progress, and I do truly believe that. You have seen it with other clubs, and with clubs our size, it is about having a real belief in your football and then you hit a sweet spot with things going your way. You do need things to go your way, and in any given year, you can make an impact. I do not think it is a linear thing for a club like ours. You have to be in it every year and knocking on the door. Eventually, you will get the response you want.

How much has this campaign whetted your appetite to prove yourself as a manager?

I do not have to prove myself as a manager. I do this because I think this football club deserves to be at this level. This year has given me the appetite to be here every year and make an impact. You know yourself, we get 60,000 at every home game, and we've got a great stadium with the most unique of atmospheres. A club our size deserves to be playing at his level. That is where the motivation lies. It is not about me, and I do not need to prove myself to anyone. I am comfortable with the sort of manager I am but I am also aware of the responsibility I have to this football club. It takes its rightful place amongst some of the biggest football clubs in the world.

What have you learned as a manager from this Champions League experience?

Nothing I did not already know. It is a tough competition. It is a tournament that is relentless from the beginning, but we knew that going into it. The key for us was being able to measure where we are in relation to that. You can fight for survival and fear the consequences or brave and try to test yourself, which is what we have done. This has then given me the ability to see the areas we are coming short in and the ones we need to improve in. It is not about the outcomes. Obviously, that is what you get measured on, results. For me, it is like what are the areas we need to chip away at. I think in every game, we have measured ourselves against the best by playing our football. The learnings have come for me in us staying true to who we want to be as a football club and not react in fear at the results because of the level of competition we are at.

Do feel for Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate for them missing out on the World Cup squad?

Nothing is going to stop Reo from being the best footballer he can be. Kyogo, his nature never changes, he is always smiling, always happy. He loves what he does and that won’t change, but it is good motivation for them. They both have a World Cup in them if they miss out on this one. The World Cup, and I was fortunate to be a manager at one, is one of those tournaments which is a dream to get to. They both would have been very close to getting there, particularly Kyogo. I am disappointed for them because Reo probably has one or two cycles of World Cups to potentially go to. Kyogo, at his age, still has one in him. But you want to take these opportunities. I’m disappointed for them, but both of them are really strong characters. 

You have also been linked with Yuki Kobayashi, is there anything you can tell us about that?

We've gone early on the January market, haven't we? I will be doing a lot of talking about that. As I have said before, we have a strategy in place which I am really comfortable with, which is that we are always looking to improve our squad and the way we do things. If we take away the experiences we have had at the Champions League and at a domestic level, we need to ask how we can be better in a way that lets us develop. We have had plans in place for January for a while now, and hopefully, we can conclude that to make the squad stronger for the second half of the year and beyond.