Benjamin Nygren exclusive interview with CelticPlayer | OneFootball

Benjamin Nygren has made an immediate impact at the beginning of the new campaign, scoring the winning goal in Celtic’s opening league fixture against Dundee.

After a short turnaround following his summer involvement with Sweden, the attacking midfielder has quickly settled back into life at Lennoxtown and is now focused on helping the Celts continue their positive start when they travel to face Kilmarnock this Sunday.

Celtic’s previous visit to Rugby Park produced one of the most dramatic victories of last season, as the Hoops came from behind to claim a 3-2 win with a late winner.

Nygren scored the equaliser that afternoon and believes the result highlighted the character and determination within the squad.

The Swede said: “My memories were that we didn’t play a good first half and then we came out in the second half, like we did many times last season, and turned around the game.

“It was great that we made it, and there are a lot of memories from when Julian scored and celebrated with the fans. I’ve seen it so many times and it became a big meme on social media, so that was very funny.

“But this year I hope we can score earlier and kill the game faster.”

The match also proved to be another example of Celtic’s ability to keep pushing until the final whistle, something Nygren feels became a defining feature of the team’s successful season.

 He added: “It showed the mentality of the group, that we never quit. Even though it was tough, we kept on chasing and we kept on fighting for each other all the time. 

“There were so many games where you could feel on the pitch that a goal would come. I was so proud of what we did last season.

“But now I hope that we don’t have to turn around the game and that we can play better from the start and kill the game.”

Sunday’s fixture will also be Celtic’s first visit to Rugby Park since Kilmarnock replaced their artificial surface with grass, a change welcomed by the Swedish internationalist.

Nygren said: “I’m happy about it because there is also a scale when it comes to artificial pitches, and theirs was more like a carpet than artificial grass.

“We train and play on grass all the time, so that’s good. That’s how it should be at this level.”

Nygren’s pre-season was shorter than usual following his involvement with Sweden at the World Cup, but the 24-year-old has enjoyed getting straight back into competitive action.

He said: “It has been the shortest pre-season of my life. It felt like one day you had a vacation and then the next day the games started again.

“So it was straight back in, but that’s also nice.”

His return also coincided with Martin O’Neill, Shaun Maloney, Stephen McManus and Mark Fotheringham returning to the club after guiding Celtic to a league and Scottish Cup double last season.

And Nygren is delighted to be working with the coaching staff once again.

He said: “We did some very, very good things together as a group last year. 

“It must have been one of the best comebacks in history. That was how it felt, at least, and it was so nice to get the double in the end.

“We did amazing things together, so let’s hope we can continue to do that.”

Nygren has already picked up where he left off, heading home the decisive goal against Dundee on Monday night. While pleased to get off the mark, the midfielder remains focused on his wider contribution to the team rather than setting a specific goals target.

The midfielder said: “Of course, the goal was the most important thing, but I felt good in the game as well and set up some good chances.

“That’s what I want to do. I want to get on the ball, create chances and be a threat in attack.

“I don’t really think about a specific number. I’ve always been a player who scores and makes assists, so that’s what I want to keep doing.” 

One of Celtic’s new arrivals this summer is Danish striker Kasper Høgh, and Nygren has already shown signs of developing a productive understanding with the forward.

The pair have spent time working together at Lennoxtown, with Nygren looking to learn the striker’s movement and provide him with opportunities in the final third.

He said: We speak a bit of the same language, both off the pitch and on the pitch.

“We talk a lot in training and try to understand each other. I try to find him as much as possible and I set him up a few times in the last game.

“That’s what I want to keep doing, and I think it will be good.”

Watch the full interview with Benjamin Nygren now on CelticPlayer. 

Fixtures

Kilmarnock Vs. Celtic - Sun, Aug 9th 2026, 13:30