Celtic’s Atalanta Draw Restores Pride After Dortmund Humbling, Says Captain

In light of the team’s draw with Atalanta in Bergamo, Celtic captain Callum McGregor has spoken candidly about the team’s Champions League experience.
McGregor, who saw the Atalanta game as not just a point won but also as a critical step toward regaining the team’s self-respect and reaffirming their identity on the European stage, emphasized the significance of recovering with pride and resiliency following a humiliating 7-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund.

When McGregor thought back on the Dortmund loss, he recognized the impact the outcome had on the team and the players. He commended his colleagues for putting up a disciplined defensive effort against the defending Europa League winners, Atalanta, and emphasized that the goal of the performance was to meet their own standards rather than to silence detractors.

Although external criticism is a part of the game, McGregor emphasized that the Atalanta performance was especially important for the players’ own morale since they still focused on giving their best effort.

As quoted by RecordSport, McGregor said: “When you represent such a big club like this and you have a result like that, it hurts and it stays with you and all these things where you feel pride to try to put it right for yourself and your teammates and then the supporters as well. “

We never gave a good impression when we left the game, but it was crucial against Atalanta that we demonstrated that we don’t want to talk and that we prefer to be a squad that speaks on the field. I believe that was really essential. To be honest, perhaps more for ourselves. Other than the performances we do, we don’t actually have much control over what others talk about or write.

People will criticize you if you don’t do well; that’s just the way the company works. However, we simply never did ourselves justice when we left the match against Dortmund. The boys had a low profile and were low because they didn’t perform to the level that we know we can.

On the heels of that one, it can be challenging. Perhaps you believe that you have moved past it, but when the game begins, you may think, “Hold on, we’re playing a game again.” However, I felt that the lads handled that pretty well and had strong character, strong beliefs, and physicality—all of which are crucial at this level.

It appears that Celtic’s attitude has shifted since the Italian draw. Although there was a lot of criticism directed at the venue, supporters are already discussing the possibility of making it to the knockout stages in the next two games.