Callum McGregor spoke to Celtic TV ahead of Celtic kicking off their mini tournament matches in Como against Ajax last evening. The match ended in a 5-1 defeat for the Scottish Champions bringing to an end an impressive run of results with wins over Portuguese champions Sporting and English League Cup holders Newcastle United.
Como, Italy, 24th July 2025. A piper performs in the stands prior to kick off in the Ajax vs Celtic Pre Season Friendly match at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como. Photo: Jonathan Moscrop / Sportimage
Here’s Yang’s goal from the Unique Angle plus everything that the Celtic captain had to say prior to the defeat against the Dutch outfit at the Como Cup…
Q: Callum, you’ve only just arrived here in Como and have come straight to the stadium, there can’t be many stadiums in the world with more scenic surroundings. How beneficial is it to bring the team here to get to work?
Callum McGregor: “Yeah, obviously, like you said very scenic. I don’t think I’ve ever done a pre-match press conference with this much buzz around the place. There is obviously a game kicking off pretty quickly after us but nice to see, nice to be here, a really nice atmosphere and for us two really important games in the build-up to what is coming at the end of next week.”
COMO , 24-07-2025 , Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia , season 2025 / 2026 , Como Cup football , match between Ajax and Celtic , Field entrance of both teams and referee with teamcaptain Ajax player Davy Klaassen Ajax – Celtic friendly. Photo IMAGO
Q: We come into this game on the back of two really impressive performances. Brilliant against Sporting Libson and we hammer Newcastle at Celtic Park. Do you feel the momentum growing as pre-season continues?
Callum McGregor: “Yeah, I think so. The last couple of games against some really top-level opponents the team have been excellent. The rhythm and flow of the game, the aggressive football that we have been playing has been really, really good. So, the players want to continue that over the next couple of games and arrive into the end of next week in the best possible shape as we can be and be ready for the start of the league campaign.”
Celtic fans in the stands Ajax v Celtic, Como Cup Pre Season Football, Football, Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como, Italy – 24 Jul 2025Como Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia Italy. Photo Shutterstock IMAGO
Q: We’re up against Ajax straight away and then from there we will see what the weekend brings, in terms of that Ajax game, how much do you as captain relish tests like that who are a big name and a quality team?
Callum McGregor: “Yeah, absolutely. I think this is what being at Celtic is all about. It’s playing against the best teams, massive history obviously Ajax. You’re playing against a big opponent, and we want to strive to be in the Champions League, we want these types of fixtures, we want to be playing against these types of teams. So, it’s a really good test early on for us, another step forward over the last couple of games. So, it’s really exciting for the players and one they relish and want to play against the best players and test themselves as much as we can.”
Hyunjun Yang of Celtic celebrates their goal to make it 1-1 Ajax v Celtic, Como Cup Pre Season Football, Football, Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como, Italy – 24 Jul 2025Como Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia Italy. Photo Shutterstock/ IMAGO
Q: Finally, Callum, you’ve mentioned next season, that’s what it’s all about for you guys, building up to that. For you, having been here for so long, is it just the same hunger and desire every time a new campaign kicks off?
Callum McGregor: “Yeah, absolutely. I think you have that anticipation build over the last couple of weeks, you know what to expect, you know what is coming. You know the fast pace of it, the relentless nature of it, so the players have to be ready and that is something we have stressed. It’s a long, long season, there will be ups, there will be downs so pre-season is where you really hoan in, you work as hard as you possibly can, get as much fitness as you can because guarantee come December, you’re going to need that. So, the players are well aware of what we need to do over the next couple of weeks and then obviously when the season starts again, everyone starts from zero and we have to do the maximum we can so we can come out on top again.”
Conor Spence
Read this – The backstory to Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter
Thank you to everyone who has already pre-ordered the late David Potter’s last ever Celtic book, Celtic in the Eighties, which will be published on the fifth day of September by Celtic Star Books. The link to pre-order your copy is below…
Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, out 5 September 2025. Available to pre-order now.
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