“I didn’t realise that,” admits Celtic’s match-winner Callum McGregor

Celtic’s match-winner Callum McGregor certainly enjoyed being back playing competitive football after being out since picking up that injury in the Champions League tie in Leipzig in early October. The Celtic captain put in a magnificent man-of-the-match performance, controlling the game from start to finish and of course, just when things were getting desperate, popped up with Celtic’s 33rd attempt at goal but this time the ball hit the back of the Aberdeen night, much to the delight of Josip Juranovic over in Qatar and Celtic supporters at Pittodrie and watching on television.

IMAGO / PA Images. Aberdeen v Celtic – cinch Premiership – Pittodrie Callum McGregor celebrates. Photo Steve Welsh

Speaking to Celtic TV afterwards Calmac was clearly pleased with the outcome, being back in action and also of course getting the all important goal.

“It was brilliant. It’s always a difficult game up here and it was the same again today, although I thought we dominated large parts of the game but at times it probably just didn’t drop for us or our quality wasn’t quite there in the final third,” The Celtic skipper said.

“But a lot of the game that we want to do and the way we want to play was there, so there were a lot of positives and, again, having the character and resilience to go right to the end and get the winner was brilliant.

IMAGO / PA Images. Aberdeen v Celtic – cinch Premiership – Pittodrie Callum McGregor celebrates. Photo Steve Welsh

“The manager’s been massive on that since he’s come in, in terms of mentality and going right to the last whistle, and you’ve seen how many times we’ve done it now over 18 months. It’s not a coincidence, it happens by design. It’s about having a real strong mindset and believing in the structure that he gives us to play in, and just be brave. And normally, fortune favours the brave, in football as well.

“So it was excellent, and personally to get the goal was brilliant as well. But it’s all about the team and getting three points,” The Celtic captain said.

McGregor was unaware that his goal was the 200th scored by Celtic since the arrival of Ange Postecolgou and was pleased to hear about that, also noting that the assist from Jamesy Forrest was his 100th for the club, meaning that he joins a very exclusive club with Jimmy Johnstone and Henrik Larsson as the only three players to have 100 goals and assists for Celtic.

“I didn’t realise that (200th goal),” said Callum McGregor, “but that just shows you the free-flowing, attacking football and that’s over the space of 18 months, so it shows the intent that we want to do – we want to be an attacking team.

“It was just brilliant to be back. I love being on the pitch and helping the team, so it’s great to be back.

“And just on Jamesy – that’s 100 assists and over 100 goals, which puts him in there with the very best players at Celtic, so we’re absolutely delighted for him as well.”

About Author

Born just as Celtic were stopping the Ten, Lubo98 follows Celtic home and away and helps run his local Celtic Supporters Club. He goes to all the games and is a Law Graduate. Has a particular fondness for Tom Rogic among the current Celts and both Lubo and Henrik form his earliest Celtic memories.

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