It was nervy, but nobody cares as Celtic have got the job done in the Champions League.
Before a ball was kicked, the revamped Champions League format had Celtic’s name all over it, in regards to improving and it working in their favour.
Fast forward to the present and Celtic’s 1-0 win over Young Boys on Wednesday night has signified that because they are through to the play-off stage.
Whatever happens now, one thing that can’t be argued is that Brendan Rodgers has improved the team in Europe and this is a good sign going forward.
Many played their part in the win, the starting players, those who came off the bench, even Adam Idah claiming the goal, which in the end, was an own goal.
But when analysing the game back, Chris Sutton wanted to give his flowers to Kasper Schmeichel and Callum McGregor.
Chris Sutton hails Kasper Schmeichel and Callum McGregor after Celtic beat Young Boys
It’s crazy to think that some have questioned McGregor and his role at Celtic, but he, once again, produced and stood up when it mattered most.
Just like he did when Celtic beat RB Leipzig, Sutton noted how the man with the armband was ‘sensational’ during the opening 45 minutes v Young Boys and ‘everything went through him’, as he told Match of the Day.
Sutton also hailed the efforts from Schmeichel and how he has been ‘brilliant’ since replacing Joe Hart in the summer.
“This one (disallowed goal) was for the foul by Callum McGregor, who was actually sensational in the first half, everything went through him,” said Sutton.
“They got nervy in the second half and Young Boys felt that. But Schmeichel has been brilliant since he signed for the club. He has been excellent with his feet. Really accomplished with his feet.
“But those saves there, absolutely critical. It just shows you what an important moment that was in the game.”
McGregor’s stats for Celtic against Young Boys
You best get that statue ready when McGregor retires because he will be deserving of it.
It has suited Celtic that he has retired from Scotland duty because it gives the 31-year-old more time to recover in what is an already hectic fixture list even without international football.
Then you take into account the extra games Celtic are playing in Europe, but as everyone saw against Young Boys, it saw WhoScored rate McGregor’s performance at 7.69.
| Shots | Key Passes | Passes | PA% | Dribbles | Total tackles | Inter | AccLB | AccTB | Touches | Rating |
| 1 | 1 | 64 | 95.3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 77 | 7.69 |
*Inter = Interceptions
*AccLB = Accurate Long Balls
*AccTB = Accurate Through Balls
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