Strachan joy at Celtic progress

Strachan saw his side lose out on the road once again

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan was delighted to reach the Champions League last 16, despite losing their final group match at the San Siro.

"Second year on the trot, with a new bunch of players, we've got a few injuries and few tired bodies," he said after the 1-0 loss to AC Milan.

"We must be pleased to get out of that group. I think that could have been the hardest of the groups.

"To get through is just wonderful for the club."

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However, Strachan insisted his side must improve if they are to progress further at home and abroad.

"No clean sheets. If we want to get better in Europe and in our home league, we must improve that," he said.

"I think the next level for us is to be a force away in Europe. I need to find that out and do something about that.

"We have to get better whether it's at home or away. There's one or two negatives I'm desperate to sort out."

I thought the game was dead, absolutely dead Gordon Strachan

Celtic have now amassed just one point from the 15 Champions League group games they have played away from Glasgow.

But their wonderful home record will make any side wary of a trip to Celtic Park in the knockout phase.

With Benfica beating Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic made it through in second place, two points ahead of the Portuguese club.

Shakhtar could have pipped Celtic with a win but crumbled in front of their own fans.

"It was, as you can imagine, very nerve-racking," said Celtic chairman Dr John Reid. "But I'm absolutely delighted for Gordon Strachan.

"I'm delighted for his squad, who have shown themselves over that series of games to be magnificent. It is a tremendous achievement."

With AC Milan already through and Celtic in need of a point or Shakhtar Donetsk to slip up, the game lacked intensity until Filippo Inzaghi's 70th-minute goal.

"I thought the game was dead, absolutely dead," said Strachan.

"It was a bit like the atmosphere. It was dead and it's difficult for the players and for the coach to deal with that.

"It livened up when they scored and then it was end to end stuff but it was difficult to get any momentum going."

"I was OK until Milan scored, then I got worried but I eventually got some thumbs up from several people and I knew everything was OK."