Celtic’s draw with Dinamo Zagreb last night wasn’t a very notable occasion on the pitch as both sides settled for a share of the Champions League spoils on matchday six.
Despite retaining a lot of possession, the Bhoys struggled to create many clearcut openings despite Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah testing the waters in the second half.
Nevertheless, a point for Celtic in Zagreb had to suffice on a night where the pair cancelled each other out via some slick defending. Changing the tone, the Scottish top-flight champions have now kept consecutive away clean sheets in the Champions League, which is a notable achievement.
Ultimately, last night’s encounter wasn’t an affair for pundits to get their teeth into, barring what the end result signifies. On that token, Peter Schmeichel believes Celtic will be satisfied with their Zagreb stalemate as it has helped to keep them above some of their direct league phase competitors.
Prolonging the theme of positivity, Neil Lennon reserved some special praise for one Hoops star who wrote himself into the history books last night.
Neil Lennon on Callum McGregor’s unique Celtic achievement
Speaking on TNT Sports, Lennon paid tribute to Celtic captain Callum McGregor after he made his 100th appearance in European competition for the Bhoys last night.
Celebrating the achievement, he explained: “He (Callum McGregor) is just one of those players that reinvents himself every year. I can’t speak highly enough of him. I have coached him, I have worked with him on a daily basis.
“Not only is he a fantastic player but he is a fantastic role model. Not just for fans and for young kids, for the young players in the dressing room and young professionals. He is a real leader, although he does it all with great humility. You never see him on social media or anything like that.
“He is just a top, top player and a top, top professional. For him to get 100 European appearances speaks volumes for his talent.”
Callum McGregor keeps delivering in the Champions League
While McGregor has caught fire in way more spectacular occasions across his Celtic career, another important contribution against Zagreb helped his side claim a valuable point on the road.
Stat-trackers Fotmob show he maintained 97% pass accuracy, carved out a solitary chance and completed five defensive actions, marking a solid night’s work for the skipper within a packed engine room.
At times, ensuring McGregor is adequately protected in transition is something the Bhoys look to have worked on, enabling their main leader the opportunity to drive his teammates forward.
In the peak of his career, the former Scotland international continues to be a leading light for Celtic across the Champions League campaign.
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