Celtic assistant manager Johan Mjallby felt his side were unfortunate to lose out to Rangers in the League Cup final.

"I don't think there was much in it," said the Swede after the 2-1 extra-time defeat. "It was a very close affair.

"At the end of 90 minutes we looked the stronger team and I'm disappointed by the way we lost both goals.

"But you have to take it on the chin and move forward. We can't fault the effort of the players - they really tried their best."

Joe Ledley headed an equaliser for Celtic on the half-hour mark to cancel out an earlier strike from Steven Davis.

However, Rangers created the better chances at Hampden and were rewarded in the eighth minute of extra-time when Nikica Jelavic shot home the winning goal, via the post.

In a game played at a typically frantic pace on a bumpy pitch, Celtic failed to provide good service to front two Georgios Samaras and Gary Hooper, with the latter looking off the pace.

The English striker did get one good glimpse of goal at the close of regulation play but his close-range strike was blocked by Steven Whittaker.

"We think Gary Hooper is a bit special and right at the end he had maybe one of the best chances of the game," Mjallby told BBC Radio Scotland.

Celtic lost out to an extra-time goal at Hampden Park

"We thought he would score there but no player can be 100% in every game.

"As a manager or backroom staff, you always look for it."

Celtic also struggled to cope with Rangers' direct and aggressive style, with central defenders Charlie Mulgrew and Thomas Rogne given a torrid time.

Rogne thought he had conceded a penalty after he waved a tentative leg at Jelavic late in the first half.

Referee Craig Thomson initially pointed to the penalty spot, only to change his mind on the advice of one of his assistants and the Rangers striker was booked for simulation.

The U-turn was correct but the uncertain challenge rather summed up a poor day for the Norwegian.

"Thomas wasn't shaky but he was struggling a wee bit and that's why we decided to put Glenn [Loovens] on," said Mjallby. "He's got a bit more experience and he's a bit quicker."

We had a game plan, we always tell the players what to do and maybe they did not do that all the time Johan Mjallby

Celtic will now concentrate on the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Cup and Mjallby urged his players to take something from the disappointment of defeat.

"You never want to feel that again," he explained. "Obviously, as a player I used to feel it. It's not nice but you have to learn from it.

"Even if we want to play nice football all the time, sometimes you have to show some dig and compete physically as well.

"You could see the difference a wee bit. Rangers tried to be a bit more physical. They played a lot of diagonals to put pressure on us. I think we dealt with it perfectly well and if you want to be the perfect side you have to be able to play in any way."

Celtic manager Neil Lennon again remained out of the spotlight following the furore over his clash with Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist after the previous Old Firm game.

Lennon was in the stand as he continued his touchline ban, but the dressing-room set-up at Hampden allowed him to deliver a team talk despite also being banned from the tunnel area.

Mjallby dismissed suggestions that Lennon's absence from the technical area had contributed to the defeat.

"We are certainly not going to use that as an excuse why we lost," added former Celtic defender Mjallby.

"It is probably hardest on him because he is going to be less effective in the stand and probably very frustrating for him to sit up there because he wants to kick every ball.

"But it didn't change much. We had a game plan, we always tell the players what to do and maybe they did not do that all the time."

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