Callum McGregor got a spectacular response from a gloomy gathering a year ago.
Now the Celtic skipper intends to keep that sizzling run going with no intentions of assembling another Scottish Cup huddle of hurt at Hampden. Ange Postecoglou’s team were denied a Treble shot last season when defeated in the last four by Rangers. However, McGregor instantly rounded up his troops on the park after the final whistle to re-emphasise positivity and the reaction has been staggering.
Since that setback, Celtic have played 45 domestic matches and lost just once. That sensational sequence has brought a Premiership crown, a second Viaplay Cup and put them on the brink of a second straight title. McGregor now wants this term’s Scottish Cup. And, although Rangers were defeated in that Viaplay Final at the National Stadium in February, the captain says the frustration of last season’s stumble in the Scottish still lingers within some and can be used as additional fuel for the already-blazing Celtic fires.
McGregor said: “When you have disappointments like that in football, it sits with you a lot longer than the positive times. You remember them for longer, it hurts for longer. When you get a chance to rectify it, you have to do everything in your power to do that and right the wrong.
“The last time we went to Hampden was the League Cup Final and we felt like we owed them one from the semi-final last year. We managed to make that a positive experience. Again, this group will still be feeling the hurt of what happened 12 months ago, so it’s important we carry that emotion. You don’t let it cloud your emotion in terms of what you see on the pitch, but it can fuel you to go on and achieve better things.
“We’ve had a great 12 months since then and the next progression to that is a big game. We have to do everything we can to make that a positiv experience as well. We haven’t discussed it because it will probably still hurt some of the players. That’s a personal thing, an internal thing.
“With the group, you try to be positive and we’ve had a really positive 12 months. The big task for us is to try and turn up and play our football and, hopefully, progress to the final.”
Postecoglou’s team have barely given Rangers a sniff since. In five subsequent meetings, McGregor and his men have won three and drawn two.
Rangers are desperate to end their poor sequence, but Celtic have consistently found ways to come out on top and McGregor says his side will be prepared for any type of contest. He explained: “It’s no different to any other derby game where there’s a lot on the line. You’re always playing for something in these fixtures. There’s a lot riding on the game, but you can’t think too much about that.
“Rangers have tried probably three or four different ways of trying to set up and stop us playing in the three or four games we’ve had this season. I’d imagine they’ll pick one of them, or a combination, to try and stop the game and stop us being positive.
“It’s then up to us to turn that on its head and find a way. There’s interesting little battles, tactical battles. I think you prepare mostly in the same way, in terms of giving everything to try and win the game. The tactical side of the game becomes important and you have to be physically ready.
“These games can just be a one-off, they can be quite random. You saw in the last one, it was random in terms of the quality. There wasn’t much on show, it was more of a fight.
“In the previous one, we turn up, play really well and dominate. They can be a little bit chaotic at times. It’s about trying to implement your style, find a calmness and try to start well. Generally, the team that starts well is the team that wins.”
Calmness is a theme. There hasn’t been a red card in the fixture for almost two years since, ironically, McGregor was ordered off at Ibrox. He said: “I think football, in general, is going more that way. The physical side of the game is dying out a little bit. It’s becoming more technical and tactical.
“That’s football around the world and everybody seems to be adapting. You get a natural progression of that. But you also have to bring that competitive aspect where you want to work harder and run harder than your opponent. That will never die out from football, so if you can find a good balance between the two, you give yourself a good chance of being successful.”
Character also plays a huge part and, immediately after points were dropped at home for the first time this season against Motherwell, McGregor was adamant he’d demand a reaction. He explained: “We looked at the game at the start of the week and tried to find the right solutions as to why we weren’t as slick as we have been.
“After a not so positive result, you look at reaction and body language and it has been superb this week. We are building into a really big game and you’d think that would be natural, but even after that it’s been excellent.
“To win the next game is almost non-negotiable. Ultimately, we’re looking for a positive reaction to what didn’t go so well in the previous game and implement that into the week’s training. Hopefully, that gives everybody clarity moving forward.”
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