Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill during the Premier League match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on October 29, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Q: Martin said the other day it was quite surreal to be back here. Is it that for you? You’d have been 12 when you were in the academy. For you, the first time around, did you just get used to it after a couple of days? Does it still seem a bit strange to you to be interacting with him like this?
Callum McGregor: “It was almost a full generation ago that he was here for the first time. You’ve seen the team being super successful, winning trophies, and getting to the UEFA Cup final. I was coming through the academy, so at that time it was really inspiring to have the first team performing so well. You’ve seen how big the club was, and you think, well, one day I want some of that. So, to actually be here working with him on a really personal level, it’s amazing. He’s been great. He’s sharp as a tack. He’s a really good person, and he’s got good people around him. So hopefully, with a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck, we’ll be successful.”
Shaun Maloney and Martin O’Neill at Celtic Park on October 28, 2025 (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Q: He comes in with a press conference. You can see his charisma and his way he talks. Is that helpful in a week when you had a big shot like that?
Callum McGregor: “I think so. He’s quite a funny character and just lightened the mood a little bit. So it helped the players because sometimes you don’t know how to feel when there’s a change. Right away, when he spoke to the players, it made them feel at ease. And then, obviously, winning games is the biggest thing that helps everyone at a football club. So to come in very quickly, spoke to the players, and we then won the game. Everyone’s now naturally feeling good about themselves.”
Callum McGregor of Celtic reacts after missing the team’s first penalty in the penalty shoot out during the Scottish Cup Final match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park on May 24, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Q: The Scottish Cup final was very emotional for you. How do you feel about going back to Hampden?
Callum McGregor: “Fine. Much more positive than negative. So for me, you’ve got to deal with disappointment as a footballer. I had so many good days at Hampden, so there was bound to be a bad one at some point.”
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!