Callum McGregor won't blame Celtic new boys for Champions League horror run as Euro woe stretches back 20 YEARS

The frustration of another brave but bruising Champions League defeat was written all over Callum McGregor ’s face as he left the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday night.

For 82 minutes, Celtic gave as good as they got against a Lazio side that have ambitions of going deep into the competition. Just as they had against the Italians in Glasgow. Just like they did against La Liga giants Atletico Madrid at home too. In fact one mad night in Madrid has been the only time Brendan Rodgers side have been turned over in Group E. But for all their efforts just one point has been secured from five games and the journey is over before it even reached its final stop.

McGregor knows this is the harsh reality of his side being the outsiders in the millionaire’s playground that is the top level of European football. A club built on signing young talent and developing players to be able to compete at Champions League group stage level taking on behemoths splashing the cash to try and win the thing.

That’s the nuts and bolts of the matter and why even McGregor admits the winless run in the competition which has now reached 15 games maybe shouldn’t be a big surprise. But it won’t stop the skipper and his team mates striving to be better even if the task seems to get that bit tougher every year.

He said: “The run isn’t on this group. It’s happened over a long period of time. Maybe people can look at the guys who have been here longer than others, and potentially label that at them. But it’s a top competition and teams are spending millions and millions to try and win this thing. So there is a level there and compared to our budgets it makes it difficult. Especially when we’re the type of club we want to be, where we are signing young