CIRCUMSTANCES dictate that Gordon Strachan is about to enter a period of serious introspection. It is likely to last a few weeks.

The intention is to emerge with a clearer view of what is now required to take Celtic out of their present lull and onto greater heights.

If they can pick up the Scottish Cup en route, then everyone will complete the season a good deal happier.

But the horizon to which Strachan is looking lies far beyond May 26 at Hampden.

Back-to-back defeats by Hearts and Rangers have told him little he did not already know, though the bitterly disappointing performance at Ibrox did reinforce a few home truths.

The most blatant was that Celtic can no longer afford to rely on the special talents of a few. They must be able to rely on all, and Strachan will leave every player in no doubt they must be up to this task.

It would be easy after losing 2-0 to Rangers to hide behind the fact his team have successfully defended the title they won last year, and with enough room to spare that the weekend defeat is not damaging in that regard.

But Strachan accepts to bask in past or even present glories is self-defeating if you are not already projecting towards an even more successful future.

And, with brutal honesty, he acknowledges they must continue to push on, or else run the serious risk of being overtaken.

Strachan said: "We're not saying we are the best team in the world. We're a good side with some great players. There is a difference between a good side with some great players and a great side.

"So, I know what I need to do. We have to become a team where, if two or three of our star players or mentally strong players are having a bad day, then their work can be taken over by others.

"We can't just rely on a few. We have to all be able to handle that day when our star players are not able to play that well.

"It's draining for these top players, and they need to know someone else can step in.

"If not, the star players start thinking: If I have a bad day I'm responsible for defeat'. That's not fair pressure on them."

Strachan was not referring only to Saturday, though that was one occasion when even Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Shunsuke Nakamura could not ride to the rescue.

The snipers have been given even more ammunition to fire at the champions, and the focus is now firmly fixed on how poorly Celtic have ended the season, not on how easily they romped to an unassailable lead in the title race.

Strachan knows short-term memory can be selective, and he has more faith in the long-term power of recollection.

He said: "In years to come, people will only consider the fact we've won two titles in a row.

"Once we get past summer, I believe everyone will look at it as a clean sheet again and only think about who is going to be the best team next time.

"I can't concern myself with what Rangers, or any other team, are going to do because I can't influence that.

"It's just a case that, if Rangers are going to improve, we have to improve. If Hearts improve, we have to improve.

"I want to improve Celtic regardless. But there is nothing better than to have someone pushing you."

The big fear among Celtic fans is that, having dropped off their own pace, Strachan's men will struggle to lift it again when they play their next meaningful match, the Scottish Cup Final against a resurgent Dunfermline whose season continues to gain momentum.

"I'm aware people are talking about that," he concurred. "But it doesn't always work out that way, and we will be working hard to ensure we don't fall into that trap."

In truth, however, Saturday's lacklustre performance confirmed that Strachan is still capable of being surprised by this group of players.

He is entitled to be disappointed by their failure to respond to the occasion, but he is not about to play the blame game without including himself and his coaching staff.

"Yes, I was disappointed, but then I've got to say, what was I doing with them during the week?" he asked.

"Was I on top of them enough? Was I seeing what I thought I was seeing?

"It's a strange position to be in, and a lot of managers would find it odd trying to deal with the rest of the games after winning the title so early.

"Maybe this will be good preparation for me if it ever happens again. I'll have a better idea how to handle it.

"I'm wondering, should we have brought in fresh players, hungry guys? Was it asking too much of the guys who had played all season?

"But then you ask yourself: Do I leave Naka out? No, he wins games for us, and the fans want us to win.

"Should I have left Lenny out? No, he has only a couple of weeks to go here and the fans want to see him playing.

"Jan? No, he scores goals for us, and we need that. Mick? No, he could possibly be our leader in the next couple of years.

"You want to give some of them a rest, but at the same time you are duty bound for the supporters to try and win.

"Then again, maybe we should trust the players on the fringes and give them a game."