Ange Postecoglou reckons there is no point in talking about Celtic 's clean sheet record - because he knows they are defending well.
After some ropey performances at the back early in his tenure, the Australian has overseen three consecutive clean sheets with the Parkhead outfit.
That has coincided with a winning run as Postecoglou looks to keep building momentum with a win over Hibs on Wednesday night.
However, the Celtic Park gaffer isn't bothered about the number of goals his side were conceding in the Europa League and Scottish Premiership earlier in the campaign.
He insists the backline has always been up to scratch in terms of his footballing philosophy.
When asked about the run of clean sheets ahead of the trip to Easter Road, Postecoglou said: "I've said a few times, it's not about the clean sheets, it's about how we defend.
"We've got a really settled defensive line which I think is important for sure when you are talking about organisation, having some sort of understanding helps that.
"The back four and Joe (Hart) has been a lot more settled. We have made one or two changes here and there, but we are settled and we have defended well as a team.
"I mean look, I know people keep harping on about it, but we obviously played against two very good teams in Betis and Leverkusen who put four past us. Apart from that teams have struggled to score against us.
"I don't think it's been that much of an issue as others have made out. From my perspective we defend as a collective. Our strikers are working hard, our midfielders are working hard, and it gives the defenders and Joe the opporuntity to have minimal impact on our goal."
When asked what he is looking for from his defence if not clean sheets, he added: "Our compactness, our ability to keep opposition teams out of the box.
"A lot of teams in the Premiership play on the counter attack and we have really minimised that in our last few fixtures.
'Even if you look at European games, the number of entries into the box means we are defending higher up the box."
