Celtic captain Callum McGregor delivered a scathing assessment of his squad following a dismal 3-0 defeat against arch-rivals Rangers in the League Cup quarter-finals. Speaking to the media after the heavy loss at Ibrox, McGregor did not hold back, accusing his teammates of operating as a disjointed group of individuals rather than a unified team.
The midfielder highlighted a severe lack of defensive commitment, pointing out that players were only interested in participating when they possessed the ball. He stressed that surviving a high-pressure fixture like an Old Firm derby requires total collective effort, noting that trying to defend with only six players makes success impossible.
This domestic setback compounds a turbulent period for the club, arriving hot on the heels of a stunning European collapse. Celtic recently surrendered a commanding three-goal first-leg advantage in the Champions League qualifiers, ultimately suffering a 5-4 aggregate defeat against Austrian side LASK. McGregor revealed that during the Rangers match, he urgently instructed defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales to tighten up at the back to prevent another embarrassing blowout.
The Hoops have little time to dwell on their recent struggles as a demanding fixture list looms. Celtic return to action on Thursday, September 17, hosting Hungarian club Ferencvaros in the UEFA Europa League. That European fixture is quickly followed by a high-stakes Scottish Premiership rematch against Rangers at Celtic Park on Sunday, September 20.