Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has said that he believes that skipper Callum McGregor would be able to play in a top six team in the English Premier League. Seven years ago when Rodgers was appointed, McGregor went from being a first team squad player to an integral part of the teams under Rodgers.
As reported by The Sun, Rodgers was so impressed with the versatile CalMac that he attempted to lure him to the English Premier League with Leicester City. However, he is delighted that he failed given that it means that he gets to work with McGregor once again.
“I was keen to get Callum. He was perfect. He’d come in and impose how I wanted to play and understand how I wanted to work.
“He could play in different positions. He’s tactically brilliant. But I’m really glad he stayed now!
“I’m very happy that he’s the captain.
“What my experiences of both leagues tell me is people talk about , and that he would never be able to cope in the Premier League.
“He’d have played in a top-six team in the Premier League and Callum is the same. But they stay here, their happiness is here.
“Sometimes it’s different to coaches because from a coaching perspective it’s the challenge of working against top coaches and top teams.
“For Callum he’s really happy here and progressed in my first spell. He’s continued to progress and now he’s so important for his club and his country.
“But for me he could fit into any of those top teams because he can play football.”
Rodgers wanted McGregor in the summer of 2019 with a £25m move rumoured. Instead, the club rejected the overtures from the Premier League with McGregor settled at the club. With ease, McGregor is one of Scotland’s most technically gifted footballers. The ability to take the ball, drive and find a pass is incredible. It is exciting to think that he will only improve under Rodgers.
McGregor has 419 appearances for Celtic, scoring 62 goals and assisting 71 times for the club. The 30-year-old is the heartbeat of the midfield of both Celtic and Scotland and Rodgers will be delighted to rely once again on the classy midfielder.
In an interview with Celtic TV, Rodgers revealed that he had met with the Celtic skipper met in Majorca as he considered making the return to Paradise, discussing the squad and the club as a whole which further whet Rodgers’ appetite to come back to the club.
“He was pivotal back then, just seeing a young player develop. I’ve obviously seen him when I left and just seeing him continue to make that growth was really pleasing.
“And I have to say he was a big part of my decision to come back as well, because I had a lunch with him for a few hours in Majorca, and just understanding the squad and where it was at and what he felt the club was at, he gave me some great feedback that the group is hungry, it’s young and ready to keep pushing forward.
“And for me Callum’s an absolutely brilliant player on the pitch, his brain, his view of the game is right up there with the very, very best I’ve ever worked with.’
“He’s robust, he plays many games, he’s the ultimate professional, but within that he has a great humility. So I’m absolutely delighted that coming back here, he’s the club captain.”
Think you find Ronny made him a regular first! Just saying.
Deila deserves credit for identifying him, I think Lennon wanted to sell him to Aberdeen! My point was that McGregor was a first team player Stephen but improved massively under Rodgers. The game against a Borussia Monchengladbach always sticks out with the chance he misses to win it at the end. Fast forward a year, he scored a wonderful goal against Zenit. Rodgers was so important in his progression.