Benjamin Nygren says Celtic must quickly turn their focus to Hearts after Thursday night’s 4-1 defeat to Benfica in Lisbon.

Martin O’Neill’s side were 3-0 down by half-time at the Estádio da Luz, before Camilo Durán pulled one back after the break.

See the Celtic fixtures for 2026/27 for what comes next.

Benfica added a fourth late on through Vangelis Pavlidis, leaving Celtic with another sore European result to take back to Glasgow.

There is not much time to dwell on it.

Celtic are back in league action against Hearts this weekend, and Nygren believes the players have to deal with the quick turnaround.

Speaking to BBC Sport Scotland after the Benfica defeat, Nygren was asked whether it would be difficult for Celtic to lift themselves again.

He said: “No, I think this is how it is when you play European football, that you have a lot of games.

“So, you know, we’re pretty used to playing every three or four days.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t win tonight, but we played a good side, so we just have to focus on the next game and to win the game.”

That is the message Celtic need to take into Sunday.

The Benfica defeat was damaging, but the league cannot become part of the fallout.

Hearts away is already a big enough fixture without Celtic carrying their European frustration into it.

Haissem Hassan and Callum Osmand made the biggest impact from the bench, but Nygren will also be hoping for more minutes as the fixtures keep coming.

He was asked whether a possible start on Sunday would be a chance to force his way into the team for the next European match.

Nygren said: “No, I don’t think so.

“Like I say, I try to do as well as possible every time I play, and I think I’ve shown that for a long time.”

That is a fair answer from a player who clearly does not want to turn every appearance into a personal audition.

Still, O’Neill has decisions to make.

Celtic looked better after the changes in Lisbon, and the manager may be tempted to freshen things up at Tynecastle after a heavy defeat and a short recovery window.

The Benfica result has gone, and Celtic need to win the next game.