Well, that was a busy hour or so over lunchtime, speaking to Callum McGregor, the Celtic captain and starting by talking about Scott Brown and Mikael Lustig, who both get their long overdue send off from the Celtic support at the Hydro this evening in what promises to be an incredible night to kick-start a memorable weekend for the Celtic support.
The Bhoys are back at Paradise on Saturday afternoon to face St Mirren and to be acclaimed by 60,000 Celtic supporters for retaining the Scottish premiership title, making it eleven title wins in twelve seasons for the club with the mainstream media and theRangers support celebrate their bragging rights.
Callum McGregor of Celtic celebrates at the final whistle as Celtic beat Rangers 2-1 in the Viaplay League Cup Final at Hampden Park on February 26, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
We also asked Callum McGregor if he would have any advance as one Celtic captain to another for Kelly Clark who will lead out the Celtic FC Women out at Celtic Park on Sunday and could end the day winning the league for the first time in Celtic’s history.
After speaking to Calmac, it was the multi-award winning Women’s Player of the Year up next. Caitlin Hayes today signed a new three year contract extension at Celtic, to increase still further the feel-good factor for Fran Alonso’s Celtic FC Women’s side who play Hearts at Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 4.10pm).
Then we spoke to Fran Alonso who reckons he wouldn’t swap positions with either of the other two potential title winning managers on Sunday and is confident that his team can get the desired result on the day to guarantee Champions League qualification and perhaps if theRangers avoid defeat at Ibrox against Glasgow City, end the day as SWPL1 Champions. And what an achievement that will be!
We’ll come back to what Caitlin Hayes and Fran Alonso have been saying but first we’ll report on what Callum McGregor told The Celtic Star earlier this afternoon….
The Celtic Star: This evening the Celtic support will gather at The Hydro to acclaim two Celtic legends, Scott Brown and Mikael Lustig. How much influence did those two have on your career so far and how much did they help you become a successful Celtic captain?
Scott Brown and Mikael Lustig of Celtic lift the trophy in victory after the League Cup Final between Celtic and Aberdeen at Hampden Park on December 2, 2018. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Callum McGregor: “Hugely important. Two really successful guys at this football club and they were captain and vice-captain when I came through.
“Two outstanding leaders, they worked really well together as a pair. Brilliant personalities, really welcoming but at the same token they were harsh with the players. They understood what it took to be a successful Celtic player and they tried to instil that in the group of players that were here at the time.
“So for myself to learn from that and to see it in action every day was a priceless lesson for me to get it free every single day when I came to work was hugely important. So I have got a lot to thank those two for and I am sure the supporters have as well so hopefully it will be a great night tonight.”
The Celtic Star: As the Celtic captain and as a player you have been you have been a course and distance winner of league titles and cup finals etc. Kelly Clark leads out the team on Sunday, maybe without that experience or backing behind her. So from one Celtic captain to another, what advice would you give to Kelly before the game?
Callum McGregor: “Listen, I’m sure that Kelly has had a lot of experience anyway but she understands what the fabric of the club is like, she’s been here long enough.
“We spoke to the Ghirls at the Player of the Year ‘do’ at the weekend and you can see that they are hugely excited for the game. They are up for it. When you speak to people you can just tell instantly. You know ho much hunger they have got, how much they want to do well and Kelly leads that really well. You can see that they are a close group as well so hopefully they can get the rewards that I think they deserve and I am sure that Kelly will be absolutely fine.”