Benjamin Nygren says Celtic have to move on quickly from their Champions League exit. The 25-year-old winger was speaking on international duty in Sweden. Ahead of the Nations League match against Poland. Talk of the Benjamin Nygren Celtic Champions League exit has followed the squad all week, after a stunning collapse against LASK in the play-off round.
Celtic looked set for the league phase when Callum McGregor’s deflected effort put them 4-0 up on aggregate in the second leg. LASK then scored five without reply, turning the tie on its head and knocking Celtic out of Europe’s top competition.
Nygren admitted the pain is raw. As a player, he said, you always want to play in the biggest tournaments, and he had been looking forward to playing in the Champions League this season.
It’s extra tough especially after we missed out on penalties last year. You have to try to move on as quickly as possible. It can’t sit around for too long, but it’s difficult.
Benjamin Nygren Demands Rapid Response Following European Heartbreak
Nygren knows the disappointment stretches well beyond the dressing room. He accepts that supporters feel the loss just as sharply as the players do. He said the squad owes them a reaction rather than an excuse.
“The fans want us to play in the biggest tournaments just like we do. Of course they’ll be as disappointed as we are. But as it is, we have to try to make the best of the situation.”
That sense of responsibility runs through everything Nygren said. He was clear that dwelling on the LASK result will not help Celtic climb out of a difficult run, even if the wound is still fresh for everyone connected to the club.
Swedish Winger Details LASK Defeat and Press Duties in Homeland
Nygren was speaking to media in Sweden as part of his national team duties, with Sweden’s Nations League game against Poland approaching. Away from Celtic Park, he reflected on what it means to represent a club where every result carries weight back home.
“It’s very difficult to describe. Football really means everything there. I think this is very nice. Something you shouldn’t take for granted.”
He also pointed to his own contribution this season. Insisting his individual form has held up despite the team’s recent stumbles. Nygren has chipped in with goals and assists during a period when Celtic have badly needed a lift.
“The last week has also been tough with three straight losses. Two of which were against Rangers, which was extra tough. It’s been a bit up and down. Personally I’ve done very well in many games. I’ve scored a few goals and assisted.”
Tactical Impact of Three Straight Defeats Under Martin O’Neill
Celtic’s week went from bad to worse well before the international break. A 3-1 defeat to Ferencvaros opened their Europa League campaign. Rangers, managed by Derek McInnes, then beat Celtic twice in quick succession. First in the Premier Sports Cup and then in a Premiership derby defeat at Celtic Park. Manager Martin O’Neill has come under fire following recent losses as a result.
Nygren did not shy away from the scale of the problem. Standards at Celtic leave no room for a run like this. He made it clear that anything less than victory is treated as a failure inside the building.
Every match means a lot and you are expected to win. If you don’t do it, then it’s not good enough. That’s how it is. That’s why I also want to play in a big club.
He struck a similar note on the margins for error at a club of Celtic’s size, where even a narrow defeat is judged harshly by supporters and players alike.
Unfortunately, you can’t succeed in every single match and with a slightly heavier result it’s more disappointing, as it should be in such a big club.
Nygren says that pressure has shaped him since he arrived. Pushing him to demand more of himself in every fixture regardless of the scoreline elsewhere.
“I want to win every single match and play under that pressure and that pressure. You grow a lot, both as a player and a person. I think I have done this since I got there.”
Upcoming Fixtures and International Schedule for Celtic Stars
Nygren’s focus now turns to Sweden’s Nations League fixture against Poland. He hopes to carry his club form into the international break. He was firm that his commitment does not waver regardless of the result in front of him.
I always try to give everything in every match and be a contributing factor to us winning matches.
Once international duty ends, attention returns to Celtic Park. O’Neill’s side will look to arrest a run of three straight defeats. Nygren’s message to supporters is simple. The disappointment of the Champions League exit has to be left behind. The response starts with the next match Celtic play.
