Callum McGregor described Celtic’s performance against Ferencvaros as “nerve-wracking” following their 3-1 loss at Celtic Park, which marked the beginning of their Europa League journey on Thursday.
Ferencvaros took an early lead in the 20th minute through Bamidele Yusuf, but Mika Baur equalized for the Scottish Premiership champions just before half-time.
However, the visitors regained the advantage when Kristoffer Zachariassen cleverly flicked the ball past Viljami Sinisalo during first-half injury time, thanks to Yusuf’s impressive run.
The situation worsened for Martin O’Neill’s side shortly after the break when Daniel Arzani, who previously spent two seasons on loan at Celtic, scored a stunning goal in the top-right corner just two minutes after the restart.
Celtic’s recent form at home in major European competitions has been disappointing, with five losses in their last seven matches (W2), where they have conceded an average of 2.4 goals per match.
Meanwhile, Ferencvaros broke a streak of four away games in major European competitions without a victory (D1 L3) since their 3-2 win against Salzburg in the Europa League last October. McGregor admitted that his team fell short of expectations ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm match against Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.
“It was tough. They scored at crucial moments. It’s painful, but we need to unite now,” McGregor stated to TNT Sports. “It’s a bit disjointed and nervy, but we have to push through this. Hard work is the only way forward.
“This is a challenging period. You can see how quickly doubts can creep in. We’re still a fairly new group, so we need to adapt quickly. There isn’t much time to spare. Our main objective this weekend is to win the game. We need to stay united, take it step by step, and hope for a bit of luck.”
Full-time.#CelticFerencváros | #UEL | #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/SnMCS7kpWU
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) September 17, 2026
Celtic’s latest defeat follows another setback in the Scottish League Cup, where they lost 3-0 to Rangers last Sunday.
Against Ferencvaros, Celtic recorded an expected goals (xG) total of just 1.04 from 16 attempts, while their opponents had an xG of 0.98 from 14 shots.
O’Neill expressed frustration over his team’s risk-averse approach, suggesting they learned a “European lesson” from Ferencvaros.
“This is incredibly frustrating, but it’s also psychologically damaging,” O’Neill commented. “Just when we managed to get back into the game, we failed to defend properly, which was really disappointing. This isn’t the start we desired. We have seven upcoming games to secure some points.
“We must focus on Sunday. This was a European lesson for us. We need to regroup and re-energize. When we have solid possession, we just can’t afford to lose it. But I also believe taking some risks in the right areas is crucial.”
Fan Take: This news highlights a troubling trend for Celtic, raising concerns about their ability to compete at a high level in Europe. Soccer fans should pay attention as the team’s struggles could signal shifts in competition dynamics, particularly with the critical Old Firm clash against Rangers approaching.
Source: www.soccernews.com
