Stuart Armstrong explains why Celtic must take the positives from their Champions League campaign

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Two points, no wins and just four goals; so why is Armstrong so positive about Celtic’s European campaign?

Celtic midfielder Stuart Armstrong has told the Daily Record that Brendan Rodgers’ side can take positives out of their Champions League campaign despite being left bottom of the group with one game to go.

In their first season in Europe’s premier club competition since 2013/14, Celtic were handed the dreaded ‘group of death’ when they were placed alongside Barcelona, Manchester City and the discretely dangerous Borussia Monchengladbach in Group C.

However, despite failing to win any of their five Champions League games, and suffering their heaviest ever European defeat in their 7-0 thrashing by Barcelona in September, Celtic have largely held their own.

Rodgers’ side produced a stirring performance in their 3-3 draw with Manchester City at Celtic Park, picked up an impressive point in Gladbach and frustrated Barcelona for long periods in Glasgow.

And Armstrong says that Celtic, who face City on the final matchday on Tuesday, should not only focus on the negatives as they look likely to crash out of European football by December, with even Europa League qualification unlikely due to their inferior goal difference and head to head record to the German outfit.

“After our initial poor performance in the Nou Camp we’ve done really well, including the home game against Man City, away at Monchengladbach – and there were even positives signs amidst the 2-0 defeat at home to Barcelona,” Armstrong told the Daily Record.

“Ending our Champions League campaign with a win would be the ideal finish. It is a very tough competition, the performing level for the best players in Europe. If we give a good performance and continue to develop and learn then we’ll be happy.

“We’ll go into the game against City with the same attitude we take into every match and that’s a positivity and belief in ourselves, as we showed against Motherwell.”

Rodgers was appointed this summer to improve Celtic’s prospects on the European stage but, in truth, the quality of the group meant it was always difficult for The Hoops to make progress this season.