ERIK SVIATCHENKO believes Celtic have to positively visualise reaching the Champions League group stage this summer and not allow themselves to be cowed by previous failings. Should they hold off Aberdeen to clinch a fifth successive domestic title, Ronny Deila’s side will need to negotiate three qualifying rounds if they are to take their place in the group stage for the first time since 2013. In the last two seasons Celtic have been knocked out in the play-off round by first Maribor and then Malmo, disappointments that hung over the club for the remainder of both campaigns.

Sviatchenko has worked with a mental coach in Denmark for the past four years and believes any team has to envisage any achievement before they can make it happen. “We have to dream about things and talk about them before we can get them,” said the defender who signed from Midtjylland last month. “Otherwise it will just be something loose that you cannot feel. Sometimes it’s very important to say, “we want this” and make demands, otherwise it won’t get better.

“We have to be positive. The fact something happened in the Champions League in the past does not mean it will happen again. We are doing our best to improve and sometimes you see a curve that is going up, up, up. But the most important thing is, when it drops, not to let it slide too far down. Most important for us now is to keep a high level, train well, talk to each other and analyse what we do in games. Of course we will be ready for Europe and do our best when it comes. But there is no point worrying about what happens in the future. We have to be in the present and do our best here and now.”

Celtic have struggled defensively in Europe in recent times and failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last eight Continental outings. Sviatchenko has been signed with a view to improving that record next season and is happy to accept his share of the responsibility.

“I will do my best,” he added. “It is important that we are at a high level for defending corner kicks and free-kicks but always when you bring new players together, it takes time to build up relations with the other players.

“Everyone wants to have a great defence. Some people say if you want to win trophies it’s the defence that wins them. Obviously everything comes from having a compact defence. But it takes time. I am new in the squad and everyone has to cope with me and I have to cope with the boys. But so far I am seeing progress. That’s a positive thing and we have to think we can be better in all areas. The opponents are not creating as many opportunities during the last three games; that’s a positive thing.”

Sviatchenko’s former team-mates may have a high-stakes Europa League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow night but the player revealed the burden at Celtic is far greater than anything he ever experienced in Denmark.

“There is pressure everywhere but there is more of it at a big club,” he added. “It is 10 times bigger here than it was at Midtjylland. Not just in terms of results but about how much better I can be as a player. I feel that I always need to perform because you want to give of your best here.”

Scotland take on Denmark in a friendly international next month and Sviatchenko hopes moving abroad will help his chances of adding to his four international caps.

“The coach of the national team is new, Age Hareide, who came from Malmo - and we all know Malmo here! We have to adapt to this new coach and hopefully I can be in the next squad. I hope the Danes will see this as a big step for me. I am a defender with a capital D, I want to improve on that aspect but also I want to improve technically because we want to do that at Celtic. Despite having a lot of the ball in games, that is still something we have to improve. So hopefully I can do my best every day. If the coach for the national team thinks I am good enough he will pick me, if not it doesn’t matter, I will keep going and eventually beat my competitors.”

Celtic, meanwhile, have been fined more than £10000 by UEFA for their fans setting off flares during the Europa League match away to Fenerbahce in Istanbul in December, and for having five players booked during the match. It is the eighth time in five years that the club has been fined by European football’s governing body.