Liam Scales faced the cameras after Celtic’s 4-1 defeat to Stuttgart, but he did not look like a man in the mood for reflection.

No excuses. No bad luck story. The German side were sharper, quicker to second balls and far more clinical when it mattered.

Martin O’Neill’s side now head to Germany next week with an uphill battle on their hands.

Scales’ frustration was clear after the match, with his TNT interview lasting just 55 seconds. Short answers. No elaboration. He looked like he’d rather be anywhere else but that interview area.

“Tough game. We go into next week to try and get it back”, he said.

“They took their chances. I feel we could’ve had a couple more as well. The performance wasn’t there.”

That last line summed it up. The performance was not there. Not defensively, not in midfield control, not in the final third when moments opened up.

Stuttgart punished mistakes. Celtic did not.

There were spells where O’Neill’s side moved the ball well enough, but at this level spells are not enough. The cutting edge was missing, and when gaps appeared at the back, Stuttgart were ruthless.

Scales was asked what the result might mean for the wider campaign. He was not entertaining any bigger narrative.

“It’s definitely not going to derail our season.”

It was firm, but again, brief. The bigger concern was the body language. This was not defiance. It was frustration.

When asked what conversations would take place inside the dressing room ahead of the second leg, Scales offered little.

“I don’t know, I’ll have to wait and see.”

That was that. Next week in Germany will define this tie. Celtic will need far more than they produced here. Better decision-making, more aggression without the ball, and composure when chances come.

Stuttgart showed the level required. Celtic were shown it.

Attention turns back to league duty for the Hoops. Hibs at Celtic Park, everything is to play for. The fixtures don’t slow down.

With 12 games to go in the Premiership title race, the Hoops know they can’t dwell on performances. They must dust themselves off and maintain focus, as every player has a part to play between now and the end of the season.