Callum McGregor reckons Peter Lawwell was referring to performance levels when he claimed Celtic had been the hardest club hit by Covid.
The Hoops chief issued an apology to fans over the costly Dubai trip, but was criticised for suggesting Celtic had come off the worst from the pandemic.
But vice-captain McGregor doesn't believe the Parkhead supremo was talking financially, but more how Celtic have suffered on the pitch from the lack of fans in attendance at Celtic Park this season.
He said: "I think in terms of actual performance, I think he was more talking along those lines in terms of having the fans and having the full stadium to roar the team on.
"Maybe in that sense he means more in terms of performance.
"I think every team in the world has been affected financially with it and some more than others, but it's a really difficult world we are living in just now and I think we just have to be as positive as we can, everyone try and help each other and just a general message of trying to help each other get through this because it's such an unprecedented time."
