Callum McGregor: Celtic don't want to be a 'nearly team' as they aim for Champions League progress

Callum McGregor insists Celtic don’t want to be a “nearly team” as they aim to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.

A win against Young Boys on Wednesday would all but secure the Hoops a place in the playoff round of the competition.

The Hoops haven’t reached the knockout stage of Europe’s premier competition since the 2012/13 season when they got out of a group containing Barcelona, Benfica and Spartak Moscow.

And the captain is hoping they can take all three points against the Swiss champions and qualify through the league stage with a game to spare.

Speaking on Tuesday, McGregor said: “It’s a brilliant incentive, and the players know that we want to take that responsibility, and it’s down to us to put in a performance that merits that.

“It could be a big step for the club; everyone wants to be a part of it. We have done so well so far, but we don’t want to be a nearly team.

“We feel like we have a team here who should be getting success, so it’s now down to the players to prove that.”

Young Boys have yet to register a single point this Champions League campaign, but McGregor knows they will still be a tough nut to crack and says Celtic are taking nothing for granted as they bring their A-game.

He said: “At this level, every team is a good team, even though they haven’t done so well. We have been on the receiving end of that where we have played well but haven’t got the rewards to go with it.

“The points never really tell the full story, we know they are a good side with good physicality, good technically and have some good players in there as well.

“When you come to this level, you always expect them to have a period in the game when they will be on top as well, and it will be up to us to turn it back in our favour.

“But we also know we are a good team as well, and we have proved that in some of the games so far, so we just have to bring it all together tomorrow and hopefully, we will have a good night.”