Latest News

Celtic favourite glad to swap Rodgers’ European nights for the Lennon variety

|
Image for Celtic favourite glad to swap Rodgers’ European nights for the Lennon variety

Callum McGregor is enjoying European nights more under Neil Lennon.

A year ago, the midfielder was part of the Celtic side slugging it out with RB Leipzig to finish runners up to RB Salzburg to keep European football alive going into the new year.

Back-to-back wins over Rosenborg provided Brendan Rodgers’ side with hope but it took a late equaliser from the Norwegians away to Leipzig to take Celtic through as the hoops were outclassed by Salzburg on home turf.

Rodgers’ time in charge failed to produce a ‘signature’ European result with Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain both knocking in seven goals as Celtic were humiliated on the big stage.

Olivier Ntcham’s dramatic winner away to Lazio provided Celtic with their first ever win on Italian soil with Lennon looking to top the group from the closing matches with a place in the February knock-out stage already assured.

McGregor has barely missed a training session over the last couple of years and is best placed to assess the change in approach between different manager.

The Sun reports:

Asked if Lennon is bolder, the on-form attacking midfielder said: “He could be. You see it with results. We went to Lazio and I think people hoped rather than had any expectation but when you deliver a result like that it changes everyone’s mindset.

“That’s what we have to do now as a team in Europe. We have been great domestically and that is still our bread and butter, we still have to look after that. But I think in Europe now we probably have enough experience where we can really go and try to do something.

“We have two games now to finish top and that is where we really want to be, then hopefully we get a good draw and we take it from there. The manager is brilliant. You hear him talking all the time.

“Obviously we know the European games are different games, you have slightly less of the ball but you hear him talking about how we must still always have a threat, we have to try and score.

“When you score, especially away from home now, it puts you in a really good position to win the game. You can defend without the ball but you still need to have an avenue to score a goal.

“Once you score a goal it changes the whole dynamic of the game. So, I think he seems to be really clued up about that side of it.”

Wins for Celtic and Lazio tomorrow will ensure top spot for Celtic ahead of their visit to Cluj in a fortnight.

Share this article

Online and independent- the only way to be. Enjoying instant news access and reaction, following the trends if not an influencer!