“We have to win. Simple as that,” Callum McGregor | OneFootball

Callum McGregor was busy after the match last night as he reflected on among other matters, the poor first half performance from Celtic against Kairat Almaty in the first leg of the Champions League at Celtic Park…

Callum McGregor of Celtic waves to fans as he arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League Play-offs Round First Leg match between Celtic and Kairat Almaty at Celtic Park on August 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Celtic were slightly better after the break but in truth never really got on top of the Kairat team in the way most people expected and will now face a long journey and cruel 90 minutes of winner takes all football with a £40m prize at stake.

“We just lacked that bit of quality to get the goal to open the game up”

“First half we never had enough intensity in the game. We were too slow, too passive with and without the ball and that gives them a bit of encouragement,” the Celtic captain told TNT Sports after the 0-0 draw.

He added: “Second half, much more like ourselves. We were on the front foot for the whole second half, we just lacked that bit of quality to get the goal to open the game up.”

Peter Lawwell, Michael Nicholson and Christopher McKay watch on as Celtic draw 0-0 with Kairat at Celtic Park in the UEFA Champions League play-off match, worth over £40m to the winners.

“When that starts to fester through the stadium, of course, then the players feel it”

Asked about the growing unrest amongst the Celtic support with Sack the Board chants being visibly heard last night the Celtic captain acknowledged that he was well aware of what was going on in the stands.

“When that starts to fester through the stadium, of course, then the players feel it. But it’s our job to try and block that out and keep playing,” Calmac said.

Looking ahead to the second leg of the Champions League play-off tie on Tuesday night in Almaty Callum McGregor was clear on what’s needed from the Celtic team.

“We have to win. Simple as that.”

Callum McGregor also spoke to BBC Sport Scotland after the match, discussing a wide range of subjects including the need for Champions League quality signing and the club’s difficulties on attracting that level of player.

Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League Play-offs Round First Leg match between Celtic and Kairat Almaty at Celtic Park on August 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“It’s only us that can put ourselves into the Champions League again”

“It’s expectation,” the Celtic captain said. “Everybody expects us to be in the Champions League, and that’s because of how well we have performed. So with good performances come expectation, and when you drop below that, then people have the right to ask questions, and we have the right to ask questions of ourselves.

“But it’s only us that can change it. It’s only us that can put ourselves into the Champions League again. So we have, like I said, with a tie shootout, we have to go there. We have to win. And I believe that this squad is good enough to do it.”

Peter Lawwell and Michael Nicholson watch on as Celtic draw 0-0 with Kairat at Celtic Park in the UEFA Champions League play-off match, worth over £40m to the winners.

“Everyone’s accountable at the club, but we have to stick together”

On the Sack the Board chanting he said: “Yeah, you can hear it, obviously, but what I will say is it’s time to stick together. We have to be in unison. We all have to be together and everybody has to do the job. Everybody’s accountable.

“Everyone’s accountable at the club, but we have to stick together. You know, we’ve had a really good start to the season. Yes, tonight didn’t go to plan. But, we still have another tie to get through.”

And here’s where the Celtic skipper strayed into discussing the club’s transfer business…

Celtic 0-0 Kairat Almaty. Celtic’s Champions League hopes hang very much in the balance after they were held to a goalless draw in Glasgow by Kazakh side Kairat. Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO / News Licensing

“Towards the front end of the pitch, we’re a bit light in numbers, but we have to have quality as well. When you’re at this level you’re trying to recruit good players and they’re hard to come by.

“It’s all well and good getting bodies in the door but if they don’t help the team then it’s pointless. We have to trust everyone. We trust the team on the pitch, we trust the guys running the club to do the right thing and get us the players and then hopefully we can have another positive season.

Adam Idah of Celtic vies with Aleksandr Martynovich of Kairat during the UEFA Champions League Play-offs Round First Leg match between Celtic and Kairat Almaty at Celtic Park on August 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“When you lose those guys, you have to then replace them with like for like quality”

“When you look at last season, you look how strong the frontline was. That’s why you get good results in the Champions League; you’re performing well, you’ve got quality coming off the bench, the squad’s strong.

“So of course, when you lose those guys, you have to then replace them with like for like quality. If you don’t, then you suffer a little bit.

“We’ve known for a while that we need bodies. Everyone’s been talking about it for the whole of pre-season. But we started the season well, and it doesn’t look like anyone’s distracted by what’s going on. Everyone just needs to stay together.”

Callum McGregor also spoke to Celtic TV after last night’s goalless draw and you can listen to that below.

Peter Lawwell, Michael Nicholson and Christopher McKay watch on as Celtic draw 0-0 with Kairat at Celtic Park in the UEFA Champions League play-off match, worth over £40m to the winners.

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Danny McGrain lifts the trophy in 1981. Photo The Celtic Wiki

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