Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor has spoken to the Daily Record about his hopes for the remainder of this season and insists that he and his colleagues will be doing their utmost to impress any potential new manager.
When asked about the external talk of potential new managers, including the likes of Eddie Howe, McGregor said that the players don’t focus on that, although it probably enters the subconscious mind. He went on to say: “As players and professionals we have to do our jobs, keep representing ourselves and when the club make the decision, you go again and it is a fresh slate. Everybody keeps pushing to impress the new manager, it doesn’t change.”
Celtic have no silverware to play for, having exited both domestic cups and being unable to catch the league champions. It goes without saying that the club’s first trophyless season since 2009/10 is a major disappointment, particularly coming on the back of a quadruple treble. However, McGregor has explained that the players are still playing for pride.
The Scottish international said of the Aberdeen game: “You just keep going and keep fighting. When you have that quality, especially with Griff when he gets that one chance, it is a goal. It could have been easy to peter out with the way things have gone. Credit to the boys, we stuck at it and got what we deserved. Overall a draw and us taking something out of the game was the right result.”
The fact that Celtic battled to a draw with no silverware on the line was something that McGregor felt was a credit to his team: “That is the professionalism of the players,” he said. “Every time you represent yourself, the club, your family, you have to do things properly, regardless of silverware – you are still playing for pride.
“Both teams attacked the game in that manner and it made for a good game. Both teams had chances and it was end-to-end stuff. A point apiece was right.”
The midfielder was praised for his lung busting run to thwart Jonny Hayes from scoring in the second half, a passage of play that involved one of his former Celtic teammates. Ironically, Scott Brown will also wear the Dons’ shirt next season and McGregor spoke of the prospect of facing another former colleague at Pittodrie by saying: “He (Brown) will be the one kicking me! It will be strange but interesting to go up against him. He and I have always been partners in there and I am looking forward to the challenge. I am sure he will as well. It is a new chapter for him.
“He has been an unbelievable captain for Celtic, a huge leader and presence. Aberdeen will be gaining a real good one. I am looking forward to it.”
