MX23RW : Saturday, November 23 02:38:05| >> :120:31958:31958:
[monks data]
Attendance: 12,890
CFR Cluj
Europa League | Group Stage
Dec 12, 2019 at 5.55pm UK
 
Celtic logo

2-0

Burca (49'), Dokovic (70')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Callum McGregor warns Celtic that Cluj clash is no "free hit"

Callum McGregor warns Celtic that Cluj clash is no
© Reuters
The Hoops have already secured top spot in Group E and a place in the Europa League last 32.

Callum McGregor insists that whoever Celtic field in their Europa League dead rubber against Cluj on Thursday will be "defending the badge and the club."

The Hoops go into their final Group E fixture with the top spot and a place in the last 32 already secured.

And after Celtic's 1-0 Betfred Cup final win over Old Firm rivals Rangers on Sunday – the Parkhead side's 10th successive trophy win – boss Neil Lennon promised to give some players a rest for the trip to Romania.

McGregor has featured 37 times for club and country already this season and stressed there will be "no problem" if he is asked to play again but says Celtic's starting X1, whoever they are, will be going all out to finish the group on a high.

The Scotland midfielder told the PA news agency: "There are no free hits at Celtic. You are always defending the badge and the club and the way we want to play, we are relentless with it as well.

"We don't want to come off it for a game because we know how hard it is to get it back.

"Obviously we have topped the group and are in a good place but I still think
that whatever team we take over we will be at it and try to win the game."

McGregor believes the way in which Celtic survived a Rangers onslaught at Hampden Park before and after Christopher Jullien scored the winning goal in the 59th minute demonstrated that the Parkhead side are a multi-faceted team.

Four minutes after Jullien knocked in Ryan Christie's free-kick, Hoops goalkeeper Fraser Forster saved an Alfredo Morelos penalty after Celtic defender Jeremie Frimpong had been sent off for hauling back the Colombia striker inside the area.

"It shows this team has got everything," said McGregor.

"We can dominate the ball and when we are up against it, against your biggest rivals with 10 men, it shows how good the character is in this team.

"We have done it year after year with winning the treble treble.

"Maybe people overlook how hard it is. If you have an off day you can easily get beat.

"It shows that this team is not willing to get beat.

"When we went to 10 men we probably got better and I think it gave us the impetus to hold on to the lead.

"It wasn't the typical final where go and dominate but another string to our bow where we were under the cosh a wee bit we can show the character of this team to win 10 trophies in a row."

McGregor also believes the victory over Rangers can have a psychological boost with regards the Ladbrokes Premiership title race, where the Hoops lead their rivals by two points.

The 26-year-old said: "It lets us know that we can do both.

"We can go and play our good stuff and mix it as well when we have to.

"To get that first trophy in the bag it is a psychological boost. It showed you that everything you have been doing since pre-season has paid off and it gives you confidence to go through the New Year period."

ID:382404: cacheID:382404:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4439:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Fraser Forster in action for Celtic on December 8, 2019
Read Next:
Ajer: 'Fraser Forster had best performance I've ever seen from a goalkeeper'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Lazio440012
2Ajax431010
3Anderlecht431010
4Frankfurt431010
5Galatasaray431010
6Spurs43019
7FCSB43019
8Lyon42117
9Rangers42117
10Olympiacos42117
11Bodo/Glimt42117
12Midtjylland42117
13Ferencvaros42026
14Man Utd41306
15Plzen41306
16AZ42026
17Besiktas42026
18Hoffenheim41215
19Roma41215
20Fenerbahce41215
21Elfsborg41124
22Braga41124
23Porto41124
24Slavia Prague41124
25Real Sociedad41124
26Malmo41033
27FC Twente40313
28Qarabag41033
29Union SG40222
30Nice40222
31RFS40222
32Ludogorets40131
33PAOK40131
34Athletic Club00000
35M. Tel Aviv40040
36Dynamo Kiev40040


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!