CALLUM McGREGOR admits Celtic must do better if they are to make an impression in the Europa League knock-out stages.
The draw for the last 32 of the competition will be made on Monday with ties due on February 14 and 21.
McGregor and his team-mates were made to sweat before they made certain following a disappointing performance in the 2-1 defeat from RB Salzburg at Parkhead last night.
At one stage, the European dream was over with RB Leipzig 1-0 ahead in their home match against pointless Rosenborg. Remarkably, the Norwegians netted a late leveller and opened the door for Brendan Rodgers’ team, despite the 2-1 loss in front of their own fans.
Now the Hoops will go into the ballot alongside London double-act Chelsea and Arsenal – and McGregor has admitted the seven-in-a-row Scottish champions must “fancy their chances” if they play at their best.
The midfielder said: “We have to take the positives.
“Nine points against some really good teams in our group and we’re now into the next stage, so let’s see what that brings.
“Against some big teams, we’ve done ourselves justice. It’s going to be tough, last year we dropped out of the Champions League and still got Zenit, another big team.
“We know these are proper teams, so we’ll have to be focused.
“We certainly have to play better than against the Austrians, but we have to fancy our chances, whatever the draw is we’ll be in a good place come then.”
McGregor got the matchwinner in Glasgow against Zenit St Petersburg in February, but Rodgers’ men were walloped 3-0 in the second leg in Russia.
