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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Matthew Lindsay

Callum McGregor admits Celtic will adopt siege mentality and seek to silence Ibrox

CALLUM McGregor has revealed that Celtic will adopt a siege mentality at Ibrox today - and try to give the supporters who have been locked out of the ground a William Hill Premiership victory over Rangers to savour.

The midfielder has also stressed that nobody at the Parkhead club, who are 14 points ahead of their city rivals in the league going into the Govan encounter, is taking a fourth consecutive Scottish title win for granted despite their commanding lead.

Brendan Rodgers’ men will not have any supporters cheering them on in the 52,000-strong crowd once again this afternoon due to a disagreement between the boards of the Glasgow clubs at the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

But McGregor has predicted the abuse which the visitors will receive from followers of their opponents will galvanise them and confessed that he will be satisfied if they can silence the stadium and give their fans a result to cheer.


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“When you experience something new in life obviously there is that kind of anxiety, especially in big football matches,” he said. “Of course, when you haven't experienced it before, then you're sort of stepping into the unknown.

“But the good thing about it is all these years later you know exactly what's coming and you're prepared for it. Then you just find a rhythm and a tempo to everything that you do that puts you in the best possible place for these games. 

“It's my job to try and help the players, keep everybody calm, keep us playing our football and keep us on the right track. So, with that time comes experience and hopefully as you mature then you get better and better.”

McGregor added: “When we arrive in the stadium we understand everyone's against us and it kind of helps the group a little bit where you have that siege mentality.

“It's whatever you've got inside that dressing room, the 40 to 50 bodies that are working on the day. It's us against them and you have to go and stand up and be counted and be there for each other.

“When you don't have any supporters in the stadium then you feel even more responsibility to try and get a result for the guys that are watching either on the tellies or wherever they are. So, sometimes you take a wee bit more pleasure in that as well.”

(Image: SNS Group) Celtic haven’t lost a meaningful Premiership match against Rangers since way back in 2021 - and they can forge 17 points clear of their age-old adversaries if they prevail once again this afternoon.

They are favourites to come out on top as the hosts are missing right-back James Tavernier, goalkeeper Jack Butland and centre-half John Souttar to injury.

However, McGregor has dismissed suggestions that his side are certainties to lift the league trophy again and stressed they will not be treating the encounter any differently to any other game. 


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“I think for us as players we just have to approach it the same way,” he said.  And if we go there and we do a lot of good things in the game then all of that will be a consequence of what we've put into the game.

 “So, I don't think we can think too far ahead. It's just about us training really well, preparing for the game and then when we turn up we are the guys that have to do the business. If we do that then it will put us in a really strong position.”

McGregor continued:  “I don't think that (not needing to win) has even crossed anyone's mind. When these games come around the competitive nature in you means you want to win.

 “We're only halfway through the season so anything can happen really, let's be honest. We have to go and be dominant in the game.

 “We want to win the game. And if we do that then of course it puts us in a really strong position. So we want to win and that's what everyone in that dressing room thinks as well.”

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