Celtic captain Callum McGregor knows the Hoops weren’t playing to their usual standards against Bodø/Glimt last week.
This Thursday represents a chance to turn things round in an ice-cold northern Norway, with temperatures and an artificial surface providing a tough setting to overturn a 3-1 aggregate score. That, and Celtic haven’t won a knockout European game since 2004.
Yet, with Ange Postecoglou’s attacking message constantly ringing in the players’ ears, you’d expect a reaction from Celtic. And having dwelled upon last Thursday’s disappointment, Callum McGregor has promised that Celtic will go for it, once again.
McGregor said [FourFourTwo]: “Being out there, you can normally tell how the game is going.
“We had good possession in good areas, we just lacked a little bit of quality in that sense, where we have normally been good.
“Sometimes you come off the pitch and think ‘that was tough’. It was a tough game for us but I still felt there were a lot of good moments for us and a lot of good situations.
“We will analyse where we went wrong and go for it and try to turn it around.
“We had some good chances at good times in the first leg and just didn’t take them, or the final pass wasn’t there, and that can be the small difference at this level. So we have to realise that and when we go there, we have to be spot on.”
Callum McGregor is right; Celtic have to dust themselves down and go for it
At this stage, there’s nothing to lose. And, in fact, there’s nothing to gain from playing conservatively, trying to eke out 2 goals on the break, or whatever. Not that Ange Postecoglou would ever entertain that idea, he admits he doesn’t know how to play like that.
Thank goodness.
Still, it’s encouraging to hear the honesty and ambition from Callum McGregor. This goes beyond generic footballer “yeah we’re gutted but we go again” stuff. The captain has admitted some real introspection was needed after a result that was against the run of Celtic’s recent form.
Sunday was an excellent response to that disappointment. After last-gasp wins, we’ve tended to do well in our next games. After Ross County, a Premier Sports Cup Final win. When Liel Abada secured three points against Dundee United, we went on to absolutely savage Rangers. And so on, and so forth.
Here’s hoping that trend continues. But for McGregor, it seems simpler than that. Just rectify the mistakes from last week and proceed with the attitude that’s served the Bhoys well to this point.
Turning around a trend that’s gone on since 2004, while recovering from a two goal aggregate deficit would be some achievement.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor has his eyes fixed on doing just that.
Read more: Opinion: What’s become clear about Chris Jullien and Ange’s Celtic team
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
