"It's not something we've spoken about or looked a,t" Calmac

Ange Postecoglou once famously remarked that Celtic has no interest in peeking over the fence to see what his noisy neighbours were up to.

Instead Celtic would play our own game, concentrate fully on our own squad and in doing so stand a better chance of achieving success. The record books certainly show that the Aussie had the correct approach.

Celtic v Chelsea Jul 27, 2024 South Bend, IN, USA Celtic player Matt OÕRiley is congratulated by teammates after scoring goal against Chelsea. Photo Matt Cashore

And it was one that Callum McGregor re-stated this afternoon at the official launch of the new SPFL season, when the Celtic captain was asked about the shenanigans over Ibrx way this summer and where he was paying any attention to that.

“Nah, it’s not something we’ve spoken about or looked at. We have our own set of problems and challenges that we have to face in order to get better as a club and as a squad of players.

Celtic’sMatt O’Riley celebrates with teammates after scoringl during a pre-season match between Chelsea and Celtic at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, on July 27, 2024. ((Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

“We’re too busy trying to demand the very best of each other, and what will be will be. We’re trying to control all the things that we can control, and push and demand as much as we can from the players. I’m sure once the season starts, everything will sort itself out but the only thing we’re focused on is ourselves.”

Celtic, by comparison have a settled squad and have had a much better pre-season with notable victories over English Champions Manchester City as well as Chelsea as part of the club’s first USA Tour in over a decade. The Celtic captain is certainly thrilled at the form from his side as they go into the new season on Sunday against Kilmarnock at Celtic Park.

Chelsea’s Roméo Lavia fights for the ball with Celtic’s Callum McGregor during a pre-seasonl match between Chelsea and Celtic at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, on July 27, 2024. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

“I think what we’ve got is really strong but we can always add to that,” McGregor said, as reported by Football Scotland. “We’re no different, every club in the country will be trying to do the same, trying to find the right ones to progress the squad. I think the squad is good. We’ve got good quality, we’ve seen that over the last two or three years. There’s a real good core. We just want to continue to build on that.

“We don’t have the resources of some of the big guns but the club are trying their best to bring us quality, and that’s what we want as players, we want to add to the squad as much as we can to drive up the performance, drive up standards in training because that’s how you’re successful.

Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo 12 celebrates with his teammates after the match between Chelsea and Celtic on July 27, 2024, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire

“The players are feeling good, the squad’s looking good and the pre-season games have been really slick. The way we’ve played in the last two games especially against so-called big teams gives us a lot of confidence but we know that once you get into the real stuff, the competitive edge kicks in and the pre-season stuff doesn’t really matter at that point.”

The Celtic captain also spoke to Celtic TV. looking forward to the game against Kilmarnock on Sunday and pointing out that Derek McInnes and his side probably gave Celtic more problems that any other club, including of course, theRangers.

You can watch Callum’s interview with Celtic TV below…