CALLUM McGREGOR is aware Celtic are within touching distance of reaching the next stages of the lucrative Champions League.
The captain was in inspirational form as he led his team-mates through the RB Leipzig challenge to come back from a goal down to clinch a second successive victory at Parkhead in this season’s competition.
An eye-catching double salvo from on-fire Nicolas Kuhn and an opportunist effort from Reo Hatate overpowered the Bundesliga giants as the swept to a 3-1 victory.
That added three points to the tally to go alongside the 5-1 success over Slovan Bratislava under the lights in the east of Glasgow in September and the point dug out against Europa League winners Atalanta in Bergamo last month.
SETBACK…Kasper Schmeichel is left helpess as Christophe Baumgartner heads in the shock opener.
The Hoops now sit in 15th place in the new-look set-up and a play-off place is a distinct possibility if they continue to perform the way they did a couple of nights ago.
The wretched memory of Celtic’s last meeting with a German top-flight side was still in the memories of Brendan Rodgers’ players after the 7-1 collapse when they square up to RB Leipzig, second in their national league, at a rocking Parkhead.
McGregor and Co had something to prove and they answered their naive German media detractors in pulverising fashion with a memorable performance on their way to a well-deserved success.
Reflecting on a job well done, the club’s influential onfield leader said: “I’m super proud of the team and the way they handled the game.
“We started well, then got a little punch on the nose with the goal and that sort of rocked us for five minutes.
“But, I said to the players at half-time about the massive character to be able to turn the game back around, go in 2-1, which was thoroughly deserved in terms of performance, and we showed great character to regain control of the game.
NUMBER ONE…Nicolas Kuhn curls in an exquisite left-foot drive from 20 yards.
NUMBER TWO…Nicolas Kuhn celebrates again after drilling in from close range to put Celtic ahead.
“The second-half was outstanding and probably as good as I’ve seen us in a Champions League game, to the point where you’ve finished the game and you’re actually pretty comfortable.
“So, an excellent performance against an excellent team and we enjoy the moment, but we stay humble. There’s a lot of work still to be done, but we can draw massive confidence from that.”
McGregor, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “In terms of the pressing and high intensity, and the way that we played through the pitch and through the press at times, it was outstanding.
“The quality, the composure on the ball, and then to be able to do that and accelerate the game, and accelerate the attack with the front boys was fantastic.
“We’ve played against some big teams here, but in terms of an all-round complete performance, it’s probably the best that I’ve been involved in.”
NUMBER THREE…Reo Hatate swoops on a rebound from keeper Peter Gulasci to make it 3-1.
Looking back at the disappointment of Dortmund, McGregor added: “When you take a sore one, you’ve got to reflect. Everyone’s got to take responsibility, which we did, but we know that we’re a good side.
“We spoke before about the Atalanta game about proving we’re a good side, but we’ve got to prove it on the pitch, and, again, we’ve done that on this occasion.
“So that’s another step confidence-wise and in belief, and we just attack the next set of games when they come along.
“It was a really good night and hopefully the supporters enjoyed it. We enjoyed it, so we’ve just got to keep kicking on from here.”
Next up is Club Brugge at Parkhead on November 27 and they will be on a high after their 1-0 victory over Aston Villa last night, the Midlands club’s first loss after three successive wins.
Before that, though, the champions will switch their focus back to the quest of winning a fourth successive title when they play Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday afternoon.
