Brendan Rodgers urged his Celtic players to harness the energy of Parkhead to secure a victory over Cercle Brugge.
However, Callum McGregor admitted the Hoops failed to provide much excitement for the fans with a lackluster first half performance. The team appeared a far cry from the one that triumphed over RB Leipzig with a 3-1 victory earlier in the month, allowing the visitors to control possession and capitalize on a bizarre own goal by Cameron Carter-Vickers.
The slow pace and lack of urgency from Rodgers’ squad dampened the atmosphere, until Daizen Maeda’s stunning goal injected some life into the match. McGregor acknowledged that while the draw was a fair outcome, it was not the most electrifying night at Celtic Park.
He explained, “I believe they had the upper hand in the first half, we improved in the second. It was a balanced result in the end. We felt like the stronger team in the second half. It’s important not to lose such matches at this level, so we take the point and continue our positive momentum.”
Substitutes Paulo Bernardo and Alex Valle provided a much-needed boost for Celtic fans when they entered the game, with Maeda scoring shortly after their introduction to ignite the crowd. McGregor expressed regret that the team could not capitalize on their momentum to secure a win, but remained optimistic about their progress.
Despite Carter-Vickers’ infamous own goal, McGregor emphasized the team effort and the importance of taking risks in their style of play. He was confident in the defender’s ability to bounce back from the mistake, highlighting the team’s commitment to maintaining control of the game.
McGregor concluded, “We tried to maintain composure and dominate possession, which allowed us to regain control. We showed improvement in the quality of our play, particularly in defense. Overall, we showed that we are capable of handling the pressure and progressing in the right direction.”
