Skipper: We have to take our chances

In partnership with

Celtic F.C.

·28 November 2023

Skipper: We have to take our chances

The Champions League campaign this season has been one of fine margins and in Rome on matchday five it was a similar story as Celtic fell to a late 2-0 defeat to Lazio.

Ciro Immobile’s late double was a crushing blow to what was another promising display in Europe this season where Celtic looked like the team more likely to win the three points.

OneFootball Videos

For the captain Callum McGregor, the night in Rome was another gutting blow as a good performance ended without victory.

Speaking to Celtic TV post-match, he said: “It’s a bit of the same old story where we don’t take our chances and we get hit on the sucker punch and then the second one kills the game.

“It’s tough to take because we are well in the games and controlling the flow and to be honest at some point we have to win that.

“You get done by good quality and I’ve been saying this throughout that you’re playing against top players and Immobile scores two good striker’s goals.

“At some point we have to win the game, it’s good having control but at some point we have to open up and we can feel that.

'The last 10 minutes before their goal we were growing in confidence and gaining chances and we were unlucky one of them didn’t fall and it’s been the story of the campaign a little bit.'

“It’s fine margins and there’s probably a bit of physicality at this level as well. We do well for 60 to 65 minutes and when the game opens up we need to get to grips and take control again.

“That comes from experience but that’s been the difference that when teams have had their moments in games they have scored.

“In the main, we are on top and we have to take our chances and impose ourselves on the game because that’s what teams at this level do to you, they take their chances and score and we saw that again tonight.”

The result means that Celtic now cannot advance into European football post-Christmas having picked up one point from the five games so far.

With one game left and the hope of another crack at the Champions League next season, McGregor feels the final match at home to Feyenoord is still of real importance to lift the mood and end on a high.

He added: “It’s massively important because we feel like we deserve it and we deserve more than one point.

“It might be one of them where we get the result and it’s probably deserved over the games.

“We want to finish off at home with the crowd behind us and try and give them a little bit of hope for maybe next season in the competition.

“There’s definitely lots to play for and when you pull on a Celtic jersey you’re always playing for everything, so will go into last game doing everything to make them proud.”