Callum McGregor spoke to the media today at Hampden Park ahead of the Premier Sports Cup semi-final against theRangers. The Celtic captain also praised Brendan Rodgers and John Kennedy for their massive contributions to Celtic and also gave an insight into how the new regime under Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney are getting on in the job…
Q: Could you take us through this week and tell us what it’s been like for you?
Callum McGregor: “Fast-paced, a lot of change, still busy with games, which is ultimately the biggest thing at a football club, is to win games. In the middle of all the change, the players have had to stay focused as much as they possibly can and lift themselves after a difficult weekend to go win a game of football, which I thought we did really well.
Q: You were close to Brendan Rodgers. When did you find out, and just your reaction to it?
Callum McGregor: “I found out the same as everyone else. I spoke to the manager 10, 15 minutes after it, and we had a chat, which will stay private for obvious reasons. Everyone was in the same boat. It was a shock at the time. Then very quickly, I was five minutes away from going to bed, and then you’ve got to deal with the aftermath of that. I spoke to some of the players, and then we came back in on Tuesday. It’s business as usual because you have a game of football to play the next day, and it’s about preparing the team and preparing the players to win that, which was a must-win.”
Q: How helpful has that been, that schedule? Because you don’t really have time to maybe wallow in some of the other stuff. What’s it been like under Martin and Shaun?
Callum McGregor: “It’s been great, to be honest. They’ve come in with real positivity, and I’ve heard everything that the manager’s been saying and Shaun’s been saying. It’s just about reminding the players how good they are and what we’ve achieved, albeit some new players coming in, but a really good core of players that have won stuff at this club and staff as well, that have been a massive part of that. They’ve come in, they’ve been really positive, and I think you could see that in the bounce from the performance the other night. Now it’s just about continuing that every three days until people are told any different.
Well said Calum I said this for years ! Brendan created this normalisation Al.ost of Trebles! He showed what Celtic always have been! Losets like lennon lost 6 out of 7 at hampden!! Yes take that in! Whereas Brendan made a point of drumming home that’s not acceptable, to the extent we demolished everyone there 11 out of 11 and it be 12 if not for one first goalkeeping mistakes in our history!! Brendan best since big Jock fact!! We are here now cause of a board that want to hoard money at the expense of our team , that’s a fact! Their media messengers kept going on about 26 million on engkes, trusty and idah but we brought in more selling oreillly and those 3 players played their part in champions league and winning the double!! If that bustards had back Brendan we be in champions league and clear at the top of that I have no doubt! They create the malaise and disharmony
Few typos but you all get me. Hail Hail let’s hammer that poison on Sunday!