Callum McGregor delivered an unflinching response as he was quizzed on the challenge facing Celtic in the Champions League play-off round.
Brendan Rodgers' side drew 0-0 in the first leg at Celtic Park on Wednesday; they face a 7,000-mile round trip for the crucial second leg next week.
Asked what would be different on this trip to Kazakhstan, with a reference to the club having never won in Kazakhstan before, McGregor stated: "We have to win, simple as that."
"We've still got another game. We haven't lost." Callum McGregor reacts to Celtic's draw with FC Kairat 🗣️@missconniemac | Watch live on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/rjNEve9DLV
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 20, 2025
McGregor then added: "We've still got another game. It's 0-0 in the tie, we never lost.
"We have to go there next week and win, and that's no problem."
Reflecting on the display at Celtic Park, the Celtic captain said: "[In] the first half there wasn't enough intensity, we were too passive.
"The second half was much better but we lacked the quality to get the goal and open the game up.
"However, we're still in the tie and we need to go there next week and win.
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"We were too wide at times so we couldn't create the connections to get us through the middle and that slowed the game down.
"We didn't start the game well and that's where the anxiety starts to spread through the stadium, but it's up to us to sort that."
The second leg - with a spot in the league phase of the Champions League on the line - will be played at Almaty Central Stadium on Tuesday, August 26.
