Roy Keane Left Impressed by Callum McGregor Despite Celtic’s European Heartbreak
Callum McGregor once again showed why he remains such an important figure for Celtic, producing a determined performance despite one of the most painful European nights in the club’s recent history.
Celtic travelled to face LASK with a commanding 4–0 aggregate advantage after winning the first leg 3–0 in Glasgow. McGregor then appeared to put the tie beyond doubt when he scored in the second leg, extending Celtic’s advantage and giving the Scottish champions an even stronger position.
However, what followed was a remarkable collapse. LASK fought back to win 5–1 after extra time, overturning Celtic’s four-goal aggregate advantage and eliminating them from the Champions League.
Despite the devastating result, McGregor’s contribution stood out. As Celtic captain, the experienced midfielder was once again tasked with providing leadership and composure in an extremely difficult situation.
The 33-year-old has remained one of Celtic’s most influential players and continues to feature prominently in the club’s midfield. Celtic’s official squad listing confirms McGregor as part of the 2026/27 first-team group, while UEFA also lists him in Celtic’s Champions League squad.
The defeat, however, overshadowed what had initially looked like a comfortable Celtic victory. After McGregor’s goal, LASK responded with an extraordinary comeback, eventually forcing extra time before scoring the decisive goal.
McGregor himself accepted responsibility for Celtic’s failure to see the match through. Reports following the defeat said the captain acknowledged that the team had been too passive and needed to take accountability for what happened.
That reaction underlines the leadership qualities that have made McGregor such an important player at Celtic. Even after a devastating defeat, he was prepared to face difficult questions rather than hide from the disappointment.
The claim in the supplied graphic that Roy Keane was particularly impressed by McGregor’s display adds another layer to the discussion. While I could not independently verify a direct Keane quote making that specific assessment, the broader picture is clear: McGregor remains one of Celtic’s experienced leaders and was directly involved in giving his team a seemingly decisive advantage before the extraordinary collapse.
Celtic will now have to recover quickly from the disappointment and turn their attention to the Europa League. For McGregor, the challenge will be to use his experience to help the team respond.
The Champions League opportunity may have disappeared in spectacular fashion, but McGregor’s importance to Celtic has not. His goal, leadership and willingness to accept responsibility demonstrated why he continues to wear the captain’s armband at one of Scotland’s biggest clubs.