BENJAMIN NYGREN admits Celtic are still recovering from the aftershock of their Champions League exit.
The Hoops failed to qualify for the next stages of Europe’s most prestigious tournament for the second miserable year after contnriving to throw away a 4-0 advantage against LASK in Austria.
The previous year saw the inexplicable loss to Kazakhstan minnows Kairat Almaty on penalty-kicks after two wretched goalless draws.
And the Swede’s mood hasn’t been enhanced with the recent dreadful sequence of three consecutive defeats, two in front of the team’s own fans at Parkhead.
Turfed out of the Premier Sports League Cup at Ibrox, soundly beaten in the Europa League and conceding three Premiership points with a 60,000 sell-out home crowd urging the champions on was not a run results anyone at the club had anticipated.
OH, YES…Benjamin Nygren celebrates one of his five Celtic goals this season.
In his second season at the Hoops, Nygren admits he is aware of the expectation levels and what has emerged in what looks like being another turbulent campaign is “not good enough.”
Martin O’Neill’s shell-shocked troops returned from Austria and a 5-4 exit from Europe’s elite competition to rally and beat Falkirk (2-1), Aberdeen (3-0), St Mirren (2-1) and St Johnstone (1-0) before the wheels came off in a 3-0 collapse in Govan.
Defeats against Ferencvaros and Derek McInnes’ side quickly followed and the Hoops will have had three weeks to analyse the disappointing performances during the international break before they are back in Premiership action against Motherwell at Fir Park a week on Sunday.
Nygren said: “It’s tough, of course. As a player, you always want to play in the biggest tournaments and I was looking forward to going to the Champions League so much.
“It’s extra tough especially after we also missed out on penalties last year, but you have to try to move on as quickly as possible.
“The fans want us to play in the biggest tournaments just like we do.
“Of course, they’ll be as disappointed as we are. But, as it is, we have to try to make the best of the situation.”
OH, NO…Benjamin Nygren shows his disappointment in the 3-1 loss to Ferencvaros.
Nygren, speaking in a report in the Scottish Sun, continued: “The last week has also been tough with three straight losses, two of which were against Rangers, which was extra tough.
“It’s very difficult to describe, but football really means everything there, which I think is very nice and something you shouldn’t take for granted.
“I always try to give everything in every match and be a contributing factor to us winning matches.
“It’s been a bit up and down, but personally I’ve done very well in many games. I’ve scored a few goals and assisted.
“Unfortunately, you can’t succeed in every single match and with a slightly heavier result it’s more disappointing – as it should be in such a big club.”
Nygren, the club’s top scorer last season with 21 goals who has weighed in with five this time out, added: “Every match means a lot and you are expected to win.
“If you don’t do it, then it’s not good enough.
“That’s how it is and that’s why I also want to play in a big club.
“You want to win every single match and play under that pressure.
“You grow a lot, both as a player and a person, which I think I have done since I got there.”
Nygren was an unused substitute as Sweden opened their Nations League campaign with a 2-1 win over Romania and the prolific midfielder hopes to get the nod when his country face Poland in Stockholm tonight.
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