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Callum McGregor is convinced Celtic CAN are out of their Champions League group.
But the Parkhead captain admits his team will need to be the best in the remaining matches to reach the promised land of the knockout stages. The Hoops meet in Europe after Wednesday’s agonizing defeat to Lazio in Glasgow left them after the first two games. Spain’s bigwigs, Atletico Madrid, are next in a formidable double header for Brendan Rodgers’ side, but McGregor insisted Celts have nothing to worry about at this level.
He said, “I think we still have to aspire to get out of the organization. When you look at the games, there’s nothing in terms of the quality of the teams. It’s just the narrow margins. We’ve played two games and don’t think we’re worried about that. The next game is incredibly important, we have to get something out of it. The organisation is still tight enough to swoon, if not definitely third, and have European football after Christmas. The expectation and motivation in the locker room is to get out of the organization.
Celtic held out for long periods against Feyenoord in Holland and then let Lazio get away with it at Parkhead. The painful classes keep coming, but McGregor is confident that the Hoops can pull it off.
He said: “When you play at this level, groups have the quality to hurt you. We spent the last 15 to 20 minutes with the ball, but we made a mistake and the boy scored with a brilliant header to the post.
“At that level you almost have to be the best. You can hardly make mistakes because groups have the quality of hurting you. Many things were fine. We create chances, we control the game and the more time you have with the ball, the less time they have to hurt you with it.
“Would we replace the way we play? I don’t think so. The way we play is a continuation of what we’ve been doing over the last few years. We seek to be progressive, to seek to have more ownership of the ball. Celtic have been built on the basis of fast play, attacking and dominant football, and I don’t think that’s going to replace too much.
“It’s simply about looking to close that quality hole and get effects at that level. Maybe it’s a little luck. Maybe we just didn’t fall in love. “
“If you score problems or get a win, I think subconsciously the confidence goes up, you get the confidence and we just want a moment like that to lift the club and start getting the effects that the team deserves. “
Celtic are a work in progress at the moment, but McGregor has noticed the fire behind boss Brendan Rodgers’ eyes as he looks to forge house dominance and make an impact on the continent.
The captain said: “He needs to win. He’s a winner. I knew it from the first time I came here. That’s how it’s programmed. He probably wouldn’t settle for less. “
“You can see that he needs to lead the team. What we’re looking to do with a new band is still in its infancy. We work tirelessly and it’s about pushing the guys every week. He set the tone. “
Europe has been tough, but Celtic are showing signs of recovery in Scotland after a hectic start that left them eliminated from the League Cup via Kilmarnock, who heads to Parkhead on a Premiership mission.
McGregor’s side are already the most sensible in the table while Rangers are in crisis and the captain has warned his team is just warming up. He said: “At first it’s a bit slow, but we seem to be improving a lot. “
“We’ve spent more time in education and we’re starting to get to know the new boys’ games. The mindset is set in that of being relentless and pushing all the time.
“It’s exciting how far this team can go, but we have to remain prepared, separately and collectively. There is more to come. We’ve only played seven games. We only depend on ourselves.
“We don’t need to lose any points. This organization is still in its infancy when it comes to having a concept of how we should play. There are still guys who are settling in. Of course, there are more things to come. I hope that in the coming weeks and months we will be able to show it.