McGregor eyes 'one big win' to reach play-offs

Captain Callum McGregor has urged Celtic to deliver "one big win" to achieve their target of qualifying for the Champions League last 16 play-offs.

The midfielder believes he and his team-mates have put together "a good body of work" by taking eight points from their first five games.

With Dinamo Zagreb away to come next month, followed by Young Boys at home in January and a trip to face Aston Villa, McGregor is confident Celtic can reach the knockout phase.

Speaking after the 1-1 draw with Club Brugge at Celtic Park, McGregor said: "We're maybe feeling we've missed an opportunity because it's a home game and we were the team that was pressing to win.

"So there's a little bit of disappointment there but it's important we take stock of where we are. We have three games to still progress and we're where we want to be, where it's all in our own hands. We've got everything to play for.

"When you look at how it's shaping up, you're one big win away from reaching the objective which was trying to get into the play-offs, so it's been a really good body of work.

"There's still a lot of work to do but the players are growing in confidence all the time. We're always still learning as well. It's been a good campaign so far."

Digging out results in the rarefied air of the Champions League is something the skipper feels Celtic have greatly improved at.

He suggests the manner of the 3-1 win over Leipzig perhaps raised hopes that an impressive Brugge outfit would be brushed aside.

"The performance level against Leipzig was so high. It was a perfect storm," added McGregor.

"There are times you have to suffer because they're all good teams. Brugge showed that. You're not always going to have everything your own way.

"That's another string to our bow at this level - we're happy to suffer when we need to."