Munich heartache fuels Celtic 'hunger' for more - McGregor

Celtic captain Callum McGregor has urged his team-mates to use experiences from this season's Champions League campaign and a "best-ever" performance against Bayern Munich to bring further European success to the club.

Brendan Rodgers' side matched the Bundesliga leaders blow for blow in their play-off, only to be left "heartbroken" by a late Alphonso Davies goal, drawing 1-1 on the night and losing 3-2 on aggregate.

But, even in the immediate aftermath of their exit from the competition, McGregor was looking to the next chapter of Celtic's journey.

"The players can take huge amounts of belief from that, and we bank all the experience that we've had over these 10 games, and hopefully we're even better for that next year," the Scotland midfielder said.

"For some of them, so young, big performances, and to play with such personality and maturity in the game. Obviously, we've got some senior ones as well, which bring that together, and they were outstanding again as well.

"So, if you can come here and play with that personality and that maturity, then there's not many other stadiums that you can go to that will be worse than that. So, there's more to come."

Bayern's victory moves them into the last 16, setting up a tie against Bayer Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid, one step closer to the final which will be played at their own Allianz Arena in Munich.

However, McGregor believes coming so close to a famous victory in the very same stadium means the Scottish champions can target similar progress next season.

"When you get knocked out of these competitions and you play like that, then you come away feeling like, yes, you're a good player, you're a good team and you probably should have got more out of the game," he added.

"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. That will be the feeling.

"We want more of this and we want to be playing in the biggest games. So, when we get the chance next year, make sure we're there and then, obviously, we start our work again from there."

Celtic will have to spend big - Grant

Former Celtic midfielder Peter Grant believes it is "all about maintaining it now" following a performance that he described as "remarkable".

Brendan Rodgers side were "excellent", in Grant's view, and surpassed his expectations.

"I don't mean that disrespectfully," he said. "Because, if you look at Bayern in the first leg, I thought they were excellent with the ball and, deep down, you thought, if Bayern played as well as they did in their first leg, there was a possibility of a tough night."

Grant, who made 483 appearances for Celtic, thinks the performance should give the players "great confidence" going into next season's Champions League, with the new format of four home and four away league phase games suiting the Glasgow side.

However, he pointed out: "When you're playing so well, people are always interested in your players, so there's always a change of players.

"Celtic will have to spend big, they'll spend it big on younger players, so they'll have to learn again and perform. Bayern paid £100m near enough on Harry Kane - Celtic is never going to pay that for anyone and that will be the crucial difference at times."