Callum McGregor Compares the Champions League to Man United To Explain How Hard It Is

Celtic’s European journey for the 2023/24 season got here to an stop on Wednesday night as they defeated Feyenoord by way of two desires to one. It was once a gratifying victory, even though it didn’t make any distinction to the Hoops’ ultimate standing in Group E.

The Bhoys completed backside of the area and post-match, Callum McGregor admitted the stage was once difficult. He stated (Glasgow Times): “That is simply the level. You see it previously in the week as Manchester United struggled to get via and that’s a huge club all around the world. The degree is now not effortless by way of any stretch.”

Soccer Football – Champions League – Group E – Celtic v Feyenoord – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – December 13, 2023 Celtic’s Callum McGregor celebrates with teammates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Along with Celtic, United finished backside of their area with simply four points. Despite spending 181 million greater euros than the Scottish champions, Erik Ten Hag’s had the identical outcome as them.

McGregor obviously thinks this shows how difficult the stage is, however, comparisons work each ways. Indeed in the same crew as the Red Devils, Copenhagen completed second. They spent five million fewer euros than Brendan Rodgers’ crew in the summer, which goes to show that succeeding in the Champions League is quite feasible for clubs the measurement of Celtic.

‘He isn’t going anywhere’: John Hartson identifies a Celtic player who is here to stay

Callum McGregor has been Mr Reliable and Mr Consistent in Celtic colorations for a variety of years now.

That fresh-faced teenager, who went on-loan to Notts County in 2013 and performed alongside Jack Grealish, is now proudly the Celtic captain and guiding the crew to trophy after trophy.

After 443 appearances for Celtic in all competitions, John Hartson thinks these numbers will accelerate even similarly and he will end his career at Parkhead, as he told Go Radio.

At the age of 30, this is Callum McGregor at the top of his powers.

There is no purpose for him to pass somewhere else due to the fact he is playing his excellent football, the captain of his boyhood club, enjoying in Europe’s elite opposition and prevailing trophies galore.

And even as ‘nothing surprises’ John Hartson in the game, in regards to players transferring at any time, he is certain about Callum McGregor.

Callum McGregor’s Celtic career

“The one players you seem at inside this Celtic side,” stated Hartson. “You seem to be at McGregor. He is a stay, he isn’t going anywhere, in my opinion.

“He is in there. He is captain. Celtic via and through. He has been here all his career. I would assume anybody like that would end his career at Celtic.

Important few weeks for Celtic

That win over Feyenoord was once crucial, not simply because it stops talk of Celtic being winless in Europe, however it was also a first-rate response from the weekend.

But heading towards that Rangers recreation on December 30, the crew have a number of huge games coming up, beginning with Hearts at the weekend.

Yes, the unbeaten streak is over in the Scottish Premiership. But if that draw with Motherwell, first-half displaying against St Johnstone and defeat in opposition to Kilmarnock is the worst of it, then carry the rest of it on.

Wretched bastards! John Hartson responds angrily to his television detractors

Other than placing the ball in the net John Hartson appreciated nothing higher than a precise 50-50 undertaking on the park- or a 40-60 to make it interesting.

He revelled in the physical challenges, a £2m teenage signing at Arsenal, scoring in a European ultimate at the age of 20 and up towards the odds almost every time that he pulled on the red jersey of Wales. He cherished it.

In retirement, in his thirties he defied the odds in his best ever battle, against cancer. Looking at him these days you’d by no means think about what he went thru in the summer season of 2009.

Some keyboard warriors are effortless meat for massive John, if people don’t like his enthusiasm for working on Celtic Champions League suits that is their problem. He ain’t going to exchange his style for a seat on the Sportscene sofa.

Late on Wednesday night large John put is thoughts collectively alternatively well interior one tweet.

Been doin co comms for 17years.. 3 major tournaments.. 3 years with 5 live.. 40 games a season. Still people will always look to criticise.. instead of giving praise when your spot on.. World we live in.. sad bastards ! Well played Celtic 👍🏻

— John Hartson (@JohnHartson10) December 13, 2023

In distinction to Hartson, Rob MacLean sounded like he had lost out to Rory Hamilton in a draw for a area on the TNT Sport Christmas jolly to Seville.

Other than the tired old Champions League facts that Celtic fans are very familiar with MacLean had nothing to add to last night’s viewing.

While the snipers tip away Hartson has a very full diary as his views are sought on European matches, the EPL and Wales worldwide matches. He also speaks Welsh.

⏱️ 𝟵𝟬+𝟭

Celtic have their first #UCL win at home in over ten years 🙌 pic.twitter.com/D0CUpDH5Mk

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 13, 2023

Brendan Rodgers’s Celtic future is closely scrutinised on TV, but his unwavering queries are met with clear replies

Reshmin Chowdhury has already caught the ire of the Parkhead fans this term after a brutal stats bomb was dropped.

TNT Sports presenter Reshmin Chowdhury went two-footed in on Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers before the Champions League clash with Feyenoord – earlier than a late winner saw her flip the script.

Chowdhury left the Parkhead fans in disbelief on matchday 5 following late heartbreak at the arms of Lazio when she slaughtered Rodgers – and also started up Neil Lennon. The Irishman used to be on punditry duty as the miserable winless run in European competitions stretched to 15 games as they bowed out of the Champions League.

And earlier than the healthy she stuck the boot in on the Parkhead boss once once more as she clashed with Lennon over the future of Rodgers following the give up of the Hoops’ European campaign. After rhyming off the painful states from the Group E campaign, she asked Lennon: “How a lot strain is Brendan Rodgers beneath then?”

Lennon tried to snigger off the question, as he said: “At Celtic you are always two defeats away from a crisis, but I don’t suppose any huge quantity of pressure – in particular from the board…” However, the host cut in.

She threw again to the criticism of Rodgers after he left for Leicester City – and how his return cut up the Parkhead fan base. She quizzed: “What about the fans? Because of the way he left and got here back, now not everybody universally loved the notion of having him lower back at Celtic.”

Lennon replied: “That is authentic however Brendan is an elite supervisor and he has verified that. There is a rebuilding manner and he will be disappointed with the Champions League campaign, there is no question of that, however to say he is under pressure – below scrutiny extra than anything.

“We are out of Europe now, it would be fantastic to win this recreation and it would be important – however the whole focal point on that will be on attempting to hold the championship again and the strain will begin to build for the give up of the month with Rangers in town.”

However, following the full-time whistle and Gustaf Lagerbielke’s late winner she flipped the script stating: “Only his second win in the Champions League for Celtic – I suggest that is large for him in phrases of relieving a little bit of strain on him.”

Lennon responded: “No question. Brendan wishes to be at the best level and be profitable at the perfect level. He will see this as a constructing block.”

Chris Sutton responds to Celtic’s Champions League victory, saying, “The rot has stopped.”

Chris Sutton stored tabs on Celtic’s Champions League conflict against Feyenoord from the London International Horse Show tonight.

The former striker has watched his old membership suffer a decade of distress in UEFA’s elite competition as they took some heavy beatings while coming close to breaking the long going for walks mission for their first home win considering the fact that October 2013 towards Feyenoord.

There used to be nothing at stake tonight besides for a 2-8m euro payout with Celtic anchored in backside spot with Feyenoord looking ahead to Europa League football in the new year.

Well at least the home record rot has stopped even if it was a dead rubber. Worst ever as a player going into a game with just pride to play for and to the player’s credit they did that🍀

— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) December 13, 2023

Luis Palma opened the scoring with a 33rd minute penalty however the Dutch champions regarded to have secured a factor in the 82nd minute when Yankuba Minteh shot home unmarked from 12 yards out.

That looked like any other difficult success story for the hoops however right on the 90th minute Gus Lagerbielke headed home from shut range after being picked out through a extraordinary go from Matt O’Riley.

After eight minutes of stoppage time Celtic, and Sutton with the horses, had been able to celebrate.

Kyogo’s goal drought is not his fault, Brendan Rodgers tells Celtics critics, explaining in detail why the star isn’t scoring

Kyogo hasn’t hit the goal for the Hoops considering the fact that a 6-0 win over Aberdeen in November.

Brendan Rodgers has revealed Kyogo Furuhashi will lead Celtic’s assault towards Feyenoord – and insisted he’s not to blame for the striker’s current intention drought.

Rodgers left the Japanese talisman on the bench for Sunday’s shock defeat at Kilmarnock after losing him out of the group for remaining week’s home win over Hibs. But the Parkhead boss tested on Tuesday night Kyogo will be pitched again in from the begin for his side’s final Champions League game of a catastrophic marketing campaign against the Dutch large guns in Glasgow’s east end.

And he rubbished any suggestion that his own tactical approach has been immediately to blame for a miserable run which has considered Kyogo net only as soon as in Celtic’s last 10 games. Asked if Kyogo will change Oh Hyeon-gyu in his assault Rodgers replied: “He will play. We have to be truthful to Kyogo and some of the other boys as well. They can’t play in every single game. You lose that speed and intensity.

“Oh’s executed well when he’s come into the game. A bit like Mikey, he gets his start and then obviously the team performs nicely in opposition to Hibs so you let that beginning crew begin apart from Cameron Carter-Vickers with a view to making changes.

‘But you need a properly squad and you need to give some relief to players, mainly with him and the quantity of work he receives through.”

Rodgers has been blamed for this drop off for deploying Kyogo in a deeper function than the one which was once earmarked for him through former boss Ange Postecoglou. But the supervisor hit lower back by insisting Kyogo has gone against his personal instructions.

He said: “We went via his video stuff the other week. We appeared chiefly at the fact I don’t need him shedding in so much. When you’re playing in a lot of video games where groups are sat deep, you don’t get a kick of the ball actually until it comes into the box.

“So what do you do? You begin wandering. His energy is his penetration. That’s his strength, running in in the back of and timing his runs. You have to make 10 runs maybe to solely get in once however that’s your job as a striker.

“So there’s been nothing changed in that. There’s been without a doubt nothing different asked of him due to the fact his power is enjoying off the ultimate line, timing his actions and being instinctive in the box.

“He’s now not a dribbler, he’s now not any one who does drop in. He can do it however it’s not his strength. And that’s continually the assignment for a striker who wants to affect games. But he’s very receptive. He’s not a baby, remember, he’s 28 years of age.”

Kyogo and Oh celebrate

Rodgers additionally printed that neither Cameron Carter-Vickers nor Daizen Maeda will make the squad for tonight’s tie, notwithstanding rejoining the squad in training the previous day after harm layoffs. He said: “They won’t be concerned tomorrow. Cameron trained this morning, however it is probable too an awful lot of a risk. He will be reachable for the weekend.”

That capacity Nat Phillips is likely to begin towards the Eredivisie champs regardless of a shaky performance capped off by an personal purpose in the Rugby Park defeat. But Rodgers insist the blame for that loss stops at the manager’s door.

He said: “Listen, I think it is a collective. It can by no means be pointed at one player. I thought in the first half we performed very well. We played with exact velocity and should have scored extra than one goal.

“But from the very outset of the 2d half of we didn’t play. If there is all of us to blame for the result, blame me. It is down to the manager to pick out the team. No, it was a disappointing result.”

Another team has now formally offered to sign a “outstanding” Celtic player in the bidding battle – report

One Celtic player is starting to come to be a target remote places beforehand of the New Year, with any other club making an offer for his services.

Celtic switch update

The Hoops have been busy over the summer following Brendan Rodgers’ return to Parkhead, with a range of additions being made in multiple areas of the pitch.

Alongside all the arrivals, there were also some departees, and the club without a doubt made a profit in the summer, mainly due to Jota’s big-money exit to Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad. As nicely as Jota, Celtic additionally obtained prices for Carl Starfelt, Albian Ajeti and Conor Hazard, and via the looks of things, the club ought to soon convey in cash for another player in 2024.

Celtic outcast Yosuke Ideguchi made the cross again to Japan until now this year, joining Avispa Fukuoka back in February. Since then, reports have claimed that the J1 League prefer to secure his services on a permanent deal.

However, in a new Celtic switch update from Japan, relayed via The Glasgow Times, the Hoops have already obtained an provide from Avispa Fukuoka and now fellow Japanese aspect Vissel Kobe are also stated to have made a “formal offer” for the midfielder.

Yosuke Ideguchi’s profession at Celtic

Ideguchi arrived in Glasgow returned in January 2022 and is under contract until 2026, however, things haven’t worked out for the Japan international. He has ignored a variety of video games via damage due to the fact placing pen to paper in Scotland and has made just six senior appearances in inexperienced and white. His injury problems have endured while on mortgage at Avispa Fukuoka.

Former Greuther Furth boss Damir Buric previously heaped reward on the player, though, saying:

“In regards to Yosuke, I can only speak the best. He is an exquisite individual with top notch character. First of all I was very impressed with the way he got here returned from that serious injury. What impressed me most was once the way he was working for the duration of his time out with the injury.

“It was simply unbelievable, nearly like soldier. He confirmed such a remarkable attitude and high-quality approach. He was extraordinarily disciplined, took in each and every additional coaching session of bodily rehabilitation and invested all of his time in getting returned as quickly as he perchance could.”

He appears to be a player with quality when fully fit, however, unfortunately, Celtic haven’t viewed that model of the participant enough, so a everlasting exit ought to make sense for all involved in 2024, whether that be with Avispa Fukuoka or Vissel Kobe, making this one to watch.