LIVERPOOL’S director of football strategy Damien Comolli has blamed the team’s troubled season so far on a lack of confidence and their players’ struggles to recover from last summer’s World Cup.

Inverness 0 Celtic 1

Paddy McCourt was handed an immediate chance to prove he can help fill the void created by Aiden McGeady’s departure to Spartak Moscow as Celtic manager Neil Lennon started with the winger at Inverness.

Neil Lennon hopes Celtic will be able to pull off a transfer coup before the end of the month as he remained coy over suggestions he has targeted Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy.

CELTIC manager Neil Lennon put up a brave face despite his side crashing out of the Champions League last night following a 4-2 aggregate defeat by Sporting Braga.

Celtic 2 Sporting Braga 1 (Braga win 4-2 on aggregate)

CELTIC midfielder Ki Sung-yueng claims his team can “smash” Sporting Braga tonight at Parkhead despite losing 3-0 in Portugal last week.

Aiden McGeady will miss Celtic‘s Champions League qualifier against Sporting Braga after travelling to Russia for talks with Spartak Moscow.

Celtic striker Gary Hooper believes James Forrest can fill the void created by Aiden McGeady's absence during tomorrow's Champions League clash against Sporting Braga.

Celtic have announced that Paddy McCourt has signed a new three-year contract.

It is understood that Paddy McCourt has agreed a two-year extension to his current deal with Celtic.

Celtic have announced the signing of Israel midfielder Beram Kayal.

Gary Hooper arrived at Celtic Park today to finalise his transfer from Scunthorpe.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has admitted that Spanish club Hercules Almelo have made a move to sign Georgios Samaras.

CELTIC have been handed a testing tie against Portuguese league runners-up Sporting Braga in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

Celtic have been drawn against Sporting Braga in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

Gary Megson has finally been booted out of Bolton – the only surprise being he lasted as long as he did.

Manchester United midfielder Rodrigo Possebon will spend next season on loan at Sporting Braga, both clubs have confirmed.

PORTSMOUTH boss Tony Adams fears the hungry understudies to the stars at mighty AC Milan might be the biggest threat to his team’s ambition of winning the “most prestigious game this club will ever play” tomorrow night.

Portsmouth manager Tony Adams fears the hungry understudies to the stars at mighty AC Milan might be the biggest threat to his team’s ambition of winning the “most prestigious game this club will ever play” on Thursday might.

Braga 3 Portsmouth 0

Sporting Braga 3 Portsmouth 0

TOTTENHAM head coach Juande Ramos insists the UEFA Cup is as important as Tottenham’s battle to lift themselves off the bottom of the Barclays Premier League.

PORTSMOUTH boss Harry Redknapp has put veteran centre-back Sol Campbell’s return to top form down to a plate of scrambled eggs and a Monday morning massage.

CRISTIANO RONALDO has admitted that he is pleased to see Chelsea top of the Premier League because it reflects well on his former international coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari.

MARTIN O’NEILL has admitted it may be “difficult” to secure the quality of player needed to take Aston Villa to the next level.

Aston Villa are still striving to thrash out a deal to make Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell their first summer signing.

Aston Villa are closing in on the signature of Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell.

THE referee for tonight’s Ireland-Slovakia Group D match at Croke Park was once suspended by the Russian Football Federation for poor decision-making.

ROBERTO CARLOS has claimed English Premiership champions Chelsea are interested in signing him.

Belgian club Ghent are considering a swoop for Bohemians’ striker Dominic Foley after the 28-year-old striker impressed in the recent Intertoto Cup clashes between the pair.

CHELSEA chief executive Peter Kenyon says the new Premiership champions are targeting three key players to join the Roman Abramovich revolution over the summer.

Injury-plagued Newcastle are forced to make changes as they look to clinch top spot in UEFA Cup group D at home to Sporting Lisbon tonight.

Newcastle and Rangers are among the top seeds for the draw for the inaugural group stage of the UEFA Cup.

Cork City representatives have met with former Irish international striker Dominic Foley on two occasions in the last week with a view to bringing the player to Turner’s Cross.

Benfica midfielder Tiago will have a medical at Chelsea today as his move to the Premiership club nears completion, according to reports in the Portuguese press.

PORTUGAL coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has named his provisional squad for European Championship in June.