Callum McGregor has criticised Celtic for showing ‘naivety’ by allowing Bodo/Glimt to reply after getting themselves back in the Europa Conference League tie, via the Glasgow Times.
Ange Postecoglou’s side suffered a shock defeat to the Eliteserien champions at Parkhead on Thursday. Runar Espejord punished the Bhoys in the sixth-minute after getting goal side of Carl Starfelt, and Glimt continued to frustrate the home side throughout the first-half.
Amahl Pellegrino added to Celtic’s misery 10-minutes into the second period with a tap in at the back post. And while Daizen Maeda gave the Hoops hope of a late comeback, Hugo Vetlesen’s deflected effort past Joe Hart just two-minutes later dashed any brief optimism.
Celtic face an uphill task in the Artic circle next week when they visit Bodo/Glimt having to win by three. Goals had not been a problem for Postecoglou’s men in recent weeks, but the Glasgow natives 17-game unbeaten run ended abruptly on a frustrating night at Parkhead.
Captain McGregor criticises Celtic ‘naivety’ in Bodo/Glimt defeat
Celtic captain McGregor fumed at his side’s sense of naivety to relax after getting a goal back against Bodo/Glimt. He feels the Bhoys would have stood a strong chance of winning at the Aspmyra Stadion next week if they were travelling to Norway only one goal behind.
“If the game finishes 2-1, then you’ve got a real good chance,” he said. “That’s the naivety we’ve got at this level, in terms of being a new group. So, we’ve got to learn from that.
“We’ll do the analysis and learn that you’ve always got to switch on – especially when you score. That’s probably when you’re at your most vulnerable. We have to take that on the chin [and] reassess it. We go there next week and we try to turn it around.”
Celtic have now lost six of their 13 European games under Postecoglou, including qualifiers, after losing to Bodo/Glimt. The Bhoys have also only won two of their six ties away from home, beating Ferencvaros in the Europa League and Jablonec in the qualifying round.
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