Celtic legend Kenny Dalglish has reaffirmed his belief that his old side can qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League despite last week’s defeat to RB Leipzig in Germany.
Ange Postecoglou’s Hoops go into Tuesday’s rematch with Marco Rose’s side needing three points to realistically keep their qualification fate in their own hands, with a further win against Shakhtar Donetsk later in the month enough to seal progression if Real Madrid uphold their end of the bargain by winning their remaining fixtures.
Despite losing their inspirational captain Callum McGregor to injury, Dalglish is adamant that Celtic can find a way to secure the six points required.
Dalglish wrote in his Sunday Post column: “I think Celtic are in a better place and look likelier to stay in the tournament. They have a point from their away game at Shakhtar Donetsk. They may well feel they should have at least one more draw and that’s an understandable outlook.
“It may well be that seven points could see them finish runners-up to Real Madrid. That’s why it’s vital they win their next two games – at Parkhead against RB Leipzig and then Shakhtar.
“It’s a tall order but not impossible. If they are trying to do it without Callum McGregor then that makes it all the harder.”
Dalglish stated that he sees McGregor as a Champions League-level midfielder, and called on other Celtic players to step-up in his absence.
He wrote: “Callum is central to everything they do and he makes the team tick. He is a fine operator at Champions League level. With him available due to injury, then it’s up to others to step up to the mark.
“I have a good feeling Celtic can do it. They are now in a three-team tournament and they can win their next two games but maybe they need to be a wee bit more compact than they were at certain times in Leipzig the other night in the 3-1 defeat.
“They may well need something from their final game, away to Real Madrid, and that might be a step too far. But you never know.”
Postecoglou confirmed before Celtic’s dramatic win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park yesterday that he expects McGregor to be raring to go after the World Cup, meaning that the captain will miss the next month with a knee injury sustained in the defeat in Leipzig.
Oliver Abildgaard made his second appearance for the Hoops as McGregor’s deputy in Germany, with Matt O’Riley taking the captain’s position yesterday from the start in Perth.
His short-term replacement is a puzzle that Postecoglou will have to solve to ensure that Celtic take McGregor’s injury in their stride in a massive month in the champions’ season.
In other news: Juranovic backs Celtic’s “second leader” to show his class against Leipzig
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