Liam Scales has admitted Celtic must improve next season after a campaign disrupted by managerial changes and noise surrounding the club.
Celtic managed to secure domestic success last season, but there were periods when performances and results fell below the standards expected at Parkhead.
Scales accepts that the Hoops will need to collect more points, control matches more effectively and produce greater consistency if they are to remain at the top of Scottish football.
Speaking to the Daily Record, he said: “100 per cent. I think we know we need to be better. We need to get more points, win more games. I do feel like that’s possible because last season was full of disruptions.
“There was a lot of outside noise, and having so many different managers in one year, it was hard to get that rhythm.
“I feel like there is room to improve, for sure. We’ve won a lot of games under the current staff. They’re all pushing us now to improve and be better, try and win games more comfortably and be more dominant.”
Scales also believes the overall level of the Premiership has risen, with more sides willing to compete for possession rather than simply sit deep against Celtic.
That change placed different demands on the champions and made several domestic fixtures more difficult than they may have been in previous years.
He added: “I feel like the standard of the league last year was really, really high, when you have teams like Motherwell. Obviously, Hibs were there. I think they only finished a couple of points off Motherwell, didn’t they? They didn’t get that much credit for that.
“I felt like the standard was really high and teams tried to play more. It was a little bit different than maybe previous years, when the majority of teams were going direct. You knew they were going direct and sitting deep off the ball.
“You knew you were going to dominate possession. It became more of a fight to dominate possession against a few more teams this season. We can learn from that and be better at that.
“I think that’s the place we need to improve for next season. I think stability is a key thing in that as well.”
A full pre-season under O’Neill gives the players more time to understand what is expected of them before competitive football begins.
Scales’ comments also show there is no complacency inside the dressing room. Celtic may have finished last season with silverware, but the defender knows a repeat will require stronger performances and fewer dropped points.
The challenge now is turning that acknowledgement into a more dominant Celtic side once the Premiership campaign begins.
