Callum McGregor believes Saturday’s test against Kilmarnock was just what Celtic needed before their keenly-awaited Champions League clash against Young Boys on Wednesday night.
The Hoops skipper opened the scoring after 12 minutes of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup tie against the Rugby Park outfit at Parkhead.
Although teenage Kilmarnock striker Bobby Wales levelled from close range just before the break, Hoops forward Daizen Maeda struck in the 70th minute for a 2-1 win and a place in the fifth round.
Attention turned quickly to their penultimate league phase game of European football’s elite club competition against the Swiss side who have yet to register a point this season in the Champions League.
The Scottish champions are 21st in the table with nine points from six fixtures and a home win would secure a place in the play-off round and maintain hopes of a place in the top eight.
McGregor told Celtic’s YouTube channel: “It was good preparation. It is always a tough game against Kilmarnock.
“They have a couple of different ways they like to play against us but it’s always a physical game.
“So it’s good that gets us to the level for Wednesday night.
“And we’ve got to come here with big energy and play with big quality to try and get the win and then hopefully that’s enough to get us to where we want to be.”
Manager Brendan Rodgers is glad to resume the Champions League campaign in front of what will be a typically passionate Parkhead crowd.
The Northern Irishman said: “It feels like ages since we’ve been here, but the nights so far have been absolutely brilliant.
“The crowd, the team has responded to the energy and I’m really looking forward to this on Wednesday because there’s a great opportunity for us.
“You can’t promise anything. You can only promise that you’re going to give your very best and our very, very best is playing how we’ve done this season, especially in the Champions League, and hopefully it can get us a performance and a result.”
