Celtic captain Callum McGregor has explained how he integrates new signings into the Parkhead dressing room as he lauded all of this season’s arrivals for their contribution.
Ange Postecoglou has rebuilt Celtic from the ground up. All of a sudden, the Hoops are looking like serious title contenders as they sit top of the tree with a freshness and vibrancy about them.
It comes after the manager brought in 10 first-team players over the summer. Another 4 arrived in the January window, with McGregor playing a key role in ensuring they ease themselves comfortably into their new surroundings.
And as he looked ahead to tomorrow night’s trip to Aberdeen via Celtic TV, Callum explained just how he manages it:
“When new guys come into the team, it’s a huge huge football club with huge expectations. Firstly the guys that have come in have done unbelievably well to settle in and be part of the group and perform at a very high standard so far. So credit’s got to go to them as well.
“All we do is just give them a little bit of history. Let them know what’s expected just in terms of atmosphere and expectation. All we can do is guide them in the right direction to see what’s coming and what’s coming next.
“It’s then down to them. They’ve got to perform and take that expectation on their shoulders as well, which a lot of them have. They’ve done really, really well. A lot of them in their first season here have hit some really good heights so far. So it’s just about continuing to work hard, stay humble. That will be the message whether it’s from the gaffer or the experienced boys, we just keep pushing everyone on to get even better.”
Callum McGregor continuing to lead from the front as Celtic title push steps up
McGregor will of course have had first-hand experience of watching over how one of the greatest ever Celtic captains in Scott Brown introduced players to Parkhead. It would be interesting to know just how much of Broony’s technique is in Callum’s methods too.
Regardless, whatever CalMac is doing, it’s working a real treat. It’s not just the fact that barely any of Ange’s signings haven’t worked out, it’s the speed in which they’ve managed to settle in and perform to a high standard from a fairly early phase.
Look at the likes of Jota, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Kyogo just to name a few. Has there even been a time in the season where their performances have been poor? Even the new Bhoys like Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley have come in and made an immediate impact on the starting XI.
You can see that there’s a sense of respect and admiration from many in the Celtic squad towards their captain too. Josip Juranovic, for example, stated that McGregor is as important to the Hoops ad Luka Modric is to Croatia [Glasgow Times]. High praise indeed.
Many may even have had reservations about how Callum would integrate into the captaincy role. Even if he was playing vice-captain to Brown over recent years, it was still going to be a big step-up for him.
But everytime he speaks, you can’t help but listen and admire him. He’s taken to the role expertly, and that’s a big reason as to why we’ve been so successful so far this term.
In other news, Celtic boss today set the record straight on Kyogo and Turnbull’s UEFA squad inclusion
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