Ronny Deila refuses to be anything other than optimistic about Celtic's Europa League chances after qualifying for the knockout stages for the first time despite the 3-1 home defeat to Salzburg on Thursday night.
The Hoops were in disarray as the Austrian side's Brazilian striker Alan struck twice in a dramatic first 13 minutes, but attacking midfielder Stefan Johansen reduced the leeway with a well-struck drive on the half-hour mark.
The home side dominated the second period but could not get back on level terms before an injury-time goal from substitute Naby Keita confirmed the visitors as group winners with 13 points.
Dinamo Zagreb's 1-0 defeat at Astra in the other Group D game meant the Hoops, with eight points, are cannot be caught with only a trip to Croatia next month remaining before the draw for the last 32.
Deila is hopeful of strengthening in the January transfer window but when asked if his current squad was capable of going all the way in the tournament, the Hoops boss said: "Everything is possible in football, so yes, of course they can.
"It depends who we meet. The best teams are very hard to beat. But anything can happen in two games.
"What you want is to go all the way but we have to start with the first opponent.
"But we are just happy to get through."
Deila believes Salzburg showed the standard required to make a decent fist of the knockout stages, which start in February.
The Norwegian said: "We met a modern football team in my opinion.
"They are unbelievably hard-working, very direct, and if we can handle them we can handle the Champions League third teams [who drop down to the Europa League] as well.
"We started very poorly and conceded two easy goals. Every time they went into attack I felt threatened. But we showed courage to get back in the game. I'm proud we really attacked them but we could not get the equaliser and then they got the third goal.
"So they have showed themselves to be a very good team and we have been the second best team."