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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Joe Donnelly

Callum McGregor avoids success jinx with 'make them wait longer' cup final quip

In just nine years in the Celtic senior side, Callum McGregor has accrued 22 winner's medals and has never once lost a cup final at Hampden.

This remarkable record was not lost on the club captain in the run-up to last season's Scottish Cup final derby against Rangers.

And while wary of superstitions ahead of such an important fixture and occasion, the 30-year-old ultimately decided to lean into the pressure as a means of coming out the other end stronger.

In conversation with the latest issue of the club's Celtic View quarterly magazine, McGregor said: "I don't want anybody to jinx me, but then people talk about it and you think: Let's make them wait a bit longer.

"I'm delighted, you can only prepare so much, you get yourself mentally and physically ready, prepare the team, then there's a little bit of luck comes into it as well."



Not only has McGregor's successful run at Celtic seen him clinch five trebles, it's also seen him lift seven trophies since taking over the captaincy from the formidable Scott Brown at the beginning of the 2021/22 campaign.

A League Cup and Scottish Premiership double during former manager Ange Postecoglou's first season in Scotland was followed by a domestic clean sweep in 2022/23.

Celtic conceded last season's League Cup, however secured their third successive league title with a game to go, and clinched the Scottish Cup courtesy of a last-gasp Adam Idah goal against Rangers at the national stadium.

Again speaking to the latter game, and his record over the course, McGregor added: "I'm delighted to keep it going, and the more it grows arms and legs, the better you feel about it.

"When you come back, you arrive into these [big] games full of confidence because you've got so much to look back on."

You can read McGregor's interview in full in the latest issue of the Celtic View – available in Celtic stores and online via the link above.

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