Captain Callum McGregor did not mince words when reflecting on Celtic's 3-0 loss to Rangers in the Scottish League Cup quarter‑final. "You saw a team and a team of individuals," he said, drawing a stark contrast between the cohesive unit that Rangers displayed and the fragmented performance of the Hoops.
The match, held at Ibrox, pitted Celtic against their arch‑rivals who entered the game unbeaten in seven domestic contests. Celtic arrived with high hopes, but the result exposed deeper issues within the squad. McGregor was blunt about the shortcomings, refusing to offer any excuses. "It wasn't us," he began, emphasizing that the gap between the two sides lay in the way each group approached the game.
"Rangers were a team – you could see that. We, on the other hand, looked like a collection of individuals who only acted when they had the ball.
We didn't press, we didn't move as a unit when we were out of possession. That's something you can't afford in this league." He went on to highlight a tactical flaw that left Celtic vulnerable: defending with only six outfield players is virtually impossible against a side that operates with discipline and structure.
"You can't defend with six players; it's impossible," McGregor warned, underscoring the need for a more collective defensive effort. The defeat follows a painful night in the Champions League qualifiers, where Celtic squandered a 4‑0 first‑leg advantage against Austrian side LASK, eventually losing 5‑4 on aggregate. That collapse, combined with the recent cup loss, has placed the club under intense scrutiny.
McGregor acknowledged the mounting pressure, noting that the team must respond quickly in upcoming fixtures. "We've put ourselves under pressure, we need to respond on Thursday against Ferencvaros and then again on Sunday when Rangers come to Celtic Park. We have to raise our level immediately," he said. He stressed the importance of internal communication and unity: "We need to get the message across that we have to become the team we aspire to be.
The loss to LASK and now this defeat to Rangers are unacceptable. There will be more big games this season, and we must start winning them if we want to be regarded as a good team." McGregor reminded his teammates of Celtic's historic identity: "If we want to be a good Celtic side, we have to win the big games.
We've always risen to the occasion in crucial matches, and that tradition must continue. So far this season we've been inconsistent, and we need to fix that." Reflecting on the memory of the Austrian collapse, McGregor expressed concern that the situation could have deteriorated further. "You don't want to concede four or five goals," he said.
He called on defenders Cameron Carter‑Vickers and Liam Scales to tighten up the back line and prevent further damage. "As soon as the goals start coming in, I tell them: no more goals. We have to tighten up.
Of course we always want to get back into the game, even when we're three‑nil down, but you have to understand the circumstances. Being beaten 3‑0 with quality goals is one thing; conceding four or five turns it into a completely different ball game." Looking ahead, Celtic will host Hungarian side Ferencvaros in the Europa League on Thursday, a match that offers a chance to rebuild confidence and address the defensive frailties exposed by Rangers. The upcoming Scottish Premiership showdown against Rangers at Celtic Park on Sunday will be another litmus test for McGregor and his teammates.
Both fixtures will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, providing a platform for the team to demonstrate whether they can translate criticism into concrete improvement. McGregor's candid assessment highlights a broader narrative within Celtic: the need to shift from a collection of talented individuals to a unified, disciplined unit that can execute a collective game plan.
The captain's remarks serve as both a warning and a rallying cry, urging the squad to rediscover the teamwork and resilience that have defined the club's storied history. As the season progresses, the pressure will mount, and the Hoops must find a way to translate their individual skill into cohesive, winning performances if they hope to restore their reputation and satisfy a demanding fan base.