Neil Lennon revealed how he and his Celtic players have come to terms with returning to domestic duties following Champions League games by adopting a minimalist approach to training.
The Hoops have often struggled in the wake of big European nights, evidenced last season when they took one point out of six in the two league games following their clashes with Barcelona.
However, this season Lennon’s side have taken 16 points from six post-Champions League games.
Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Motherwell, thanks to goals from Anthony Stokes and Kris Commons, came on the back of Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat in the Champions League to Barca at Parkhead and took them top of the Scottish Premiership.
The Celtic boss, who expects Adam Matthews to be out for around three months with a collarbone injury sustained in a hefty first-half challenge by Well skipper Keith Lasley, said: “We have curtailed the training down to a minimum between the games.
“We basically do nothing with them. The only bit of football we had was an eight-a-side game on Friday. But they all looked in good condition and in good nick.
“It was an exceptionally good performance against a very good Motherwell team and the quality of the football was good.”