CRESTFALLEN Callum McGregor admitted the Celtic players will “have two hold their hands up” after an error-strewn 7-1 hammering from Borussia Dortmund on matchday two in the Champions League.
The Hoops captain acknowledged there was no hiding place for the Hoops in front of 81,000 sold-out Westfalenstadion last night as they were swept aside by a rampant Bundesliga outfit.
McGregor looked a little shell-shocked as he spoke after immediately after the final whistle.
The midfielder said: “It was a sore one for sure. We were punished for every mistake we made which doesn’t happen often in football.
CELTIC VIEW…Callum McGregor assesses a night to forget.
“It was a sobering night. Credit to Dortmund who showed really good quality, but we have to stick together.
“We have had a good start to the season, but we’ve been sobered a little bit and we have to take that and keep the group together and bounce back in the next game.
“We got ourselves back into the game, but the quick goal killed us and rattled us a bit. We started to go alone and trying to win the ball back, coming out of our shape and good players will kill you.”
McGregor, speaking to TNT Sports, continued: “The gameplan was to be in-between the two – moments of pressure and you know there are periods you will suffer against good players.
“But we became a bit more individual and looked open because you’re too busy focusing on your own man and we have to learn from that.
“We have a lot to think about after that.
UP IN ARMS…Callum McGregor and Daizen Maeda wonder where it’s all going wrong.
“You’re playing against good players with good ideas. The second goal rattled us, the stadium gets going and you’re in a spin a little bit.”
The team’s onfield leader added: “We’re normally good at executing the gameplan, but we have to hold our hands up.
“We didn’t do well enough.
“We are where we thought we would be after two games, if we’re being realistic, so we take that and move on.”
Celtic now move from Dortmund to Dingwall to face Ross County in the Premiership with a High Noon kick-off on Sunday.
The team’s next assignment in Europe’s most prestigious competition is against Atalanta in Italy on Wednesday October 23.
