Everyone talks before a ball is kicked, and then the season ends with Callum McGregor lifting trophies for Celtic.
Rinse, repeat. Rinse, repeat. It has been the story of McGregor’s trophy-laden Celtic career, and his influence in Scotland shouldn’t be understated.
Billy Dodds has come up against McGregor on several occasions in recent seasons, as the manager of Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2023, as a coach for Rangers last season, and most recently in the dugout at Rugby Park.
Speaking on Go Radio, Dodds explained the methods he would use against McGregor, so he could try to stop him from running the show.
“The biggest compliment I could give him was that every time I had a team against him, or was involved with a team,” said Dodds.
“With that cup final (with Inverness Caledonian Thistle) or even with Rangers for the short spell we are in there. We never man-marked him. But we had a man on him all the time, because that’s how much he influences the game.”
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Billy Dodds hails Callum McGregor’s influence on Celtic
On the pitch, even though McGregor couldn’t produce those high-quality, consistent performances, he did enough damage to push Celtic over the trophy line.
That included Celtic’s 3-2 win over Kilmarnock in February, with Dodds in the opposition dugout, as the Champions of Scotland came from 2-0 down to secure all three points.
Of course, Dodds is providing a unique perspective of McGregor, and that’s as an opposing coach.
It shouldn’t be a surprise what he told Go Radio, because many have tried to take him out of the game over the years, but have continued to fail.
That’s why McGregor is wearing the captain’s armband and will continue to do so for a few more years yet.
“I have no idea what players like Callum McGregor, and how important they are to any club, never mind Celtic and the standards he drives,” said Dodds.
“What I would add to that. The biggest compliment I could give him was that every time I had a team against him, or was involved with a team.
“With that cup final (with Inverness Caledonian Thistle) or even with Rangers for the short spell we are in there. We never man-marked him. But we had a man on him all the time, because that’s how much he influences the game.
“I stuck Nathan Shaw on him in the cup final. A boy who is a forward-thinking player. He got that caught up in marking Callum McGregor; he didn’t do what he could do on the ball, because he was a right good player, and a real skilful lad.
“I wanted him to play off the ball as well. I wanted him to play in possession when we got it, not that we got it a lot. He didn’t do what he could do. But he was that caught up in stopping Callum McGregor, to an extent, he did.”
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