Gordon Strachan is hoping his luck is about to change after reflecting on a dismal week which included two poor results and a defeat to his father in a round of golf on Sunday.
The Celtic manager endured a 5-0 thrashing by Artmedia Bratislava followed by a 4-4 draw against Motherwell - but he is convinced things will now start looking up.
He is preparing to turn his fortunes around, starting tonight with the Bhoys overturning the hammering they received in Slovakia to stay in with a chance of reaching the Champions League group stages.
"I've had better weeks," the little Scot admitted. "I tried to make it better by playing my dad at golf on Sunday.
"We played 13 holes and I got beat by a 60-year-old man with a bad limp. So hopefully bad things happen in threes and that will be the last of it."
Strachan believes Artmedia could panic if Celtic go ahead, adding: "We'll be looking to get to 2-0 up. If we can do that then Bratislava will have to start thinking.
"If we do then get to 3-0 we'll have a right good chance, but first and foremost we just want to win the game.
"It shouldn't have happened but it did happen and there's nothing we can do about that apart from trying to beat them in the second leg.
"They are not a great side by any manner of means. They are a good side who had a great night.
"We are a good side who had a bad night. I'm not looking for excuses. I've not had time to coach them but that's not an excuse."
Despite his atrocious start as boss at Parkhead, Strachan has a vision that one day Celtic will be as impressive as the European heavyweights.
"I watched Arsenal and Porto yesterday - the pace of the game, the athleticism of both teams and the way they moved the ball about," added Strachan.
"I'm almost scared to say it because I know it sounds like a wild dream at the moment, but that's the vision I have for this side.
"I want us to play football at that pace and with that intelligence, but it might take a lot longer than I thought."
