Callum McGregor: Celtic's players are hungry for more after Bayern experience

Celtic captain Callum McGregor admitted his side were “heartbroken” by the nature of their Champions League exit but said the players are hungry to build on this season’s experience.

After an encouraging performance but a 2-1 defeat in the first leg, Celtic had travelled to Munich for Tuesday’s mactch as underdogs in the tie but took the lead on the night through a Nicolas Kuhn goal that levelled the tie on aggregate.

The tie looked set to go to extra time but deep into injury time Alphonso Davies netted a winner that put Bayern through and left Celtic to reflect on an impressive display that ended in huge disappointment.

McGregor admitted that the result was hard to take given everything that went into the two games but said that once the pain had subsided, the team would take confidence and encouragement from how they had developed at the highest level.

“There was a really good feeling within the group that we could come and make it really uncomfortable for them,” the midfielder said. “And we probably even exceeded that, to be honest.

“We played so well and they were really uncomfortable in the game. You could feel that in the stadium.

“When we come away for the game, ultimately we’ve been knocked out and the feeling is disappointing. But the players can take huge amounts of belief from that.

“We bank the experience that we’ve had over the last ten games and hopefully we’ll be even better for that next year.”

The experienced captain said there was a good balance of youth and maturity in the squad and that every player had been “outstanding” in the Allianz Arena. He thinks the squad are eager to deliver more in the competition and will approach next season with confidence in what they can achieve.

He said: “When you play like that, then you come away feeling like, yeah, you’re good player and in a good team and you probably should have got more out the game.

“So now, straight away, the hunger is there to do better and to do more.

“I know the players and I know the way they work and that will be the feeling tomorrow morning , that we want more of the same.

“We want to be playing in the biggest games. So we just have to bank all this and then when we get the chance next year, make sure we’re there and then we start our work again.”