Chris Sutton has discussed Callum McGregor’s recent comments about his Celtic future.
McGregor’s pointed answer about the club’s ambition signified a club captain concerned about matters off the pitch. He didn’t rule out leaving at the end of the season, if he feels his ambitions aren’t met.
Sutton has led many of the media’s criticisms of Celtic, often justified in doing so. He knows the Scottish press like the back of his hand.
And the English pundit and columnist feels like the club can’t ignore McGregor’s comments.
What are your thoughts on Callum McGregor’s strong comments on his Celtic future?
Celtic ‘can’t ignore’ Callum McGregor’s ‘ambition’ comments, Chris Sutton says
In his column for the Daily Record, Sutton said: “It has been easy for the Celtic board to dismiss the anger from fans this season as knee-jerk reactions from a support too used to success…
“It has been a breeze for them to bat away criticism from pundits and journalists with claims those people might have their own agendas.
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“But those in positions of power can’t simply ignore the warnings when they come from the Celtic captain. We can’t all be wrong.
“Callum McGregor’s interview with the daily newspapers the other day was extremely interesting, to say the least.
“He laid down the gauntlet to the club’s board, saying he wants to remain at the club for the rest of his career, but on the condition they match his ambitions for Celtic.
“That sounds eerily close to what Brendan Rodgers said last summer – and look what happened there.
“McGregor wasn’t ranting or raving, or being caught off guard by reporters trying to tempt him into saying something controversial.
“This is a player who has grown up at Celtic, risen from the youth set-up to the first team and then the captaincy.
“This is not some kid who is going to trip himself up. McGregor knew exactly what he wanted to say and he said it.
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“The part that I found most interesting was about holding everyone at the club to account, from the football department to those running the show.
“The message couldn’t be clearer. But talking about ambition, there’s an insinuation he hasn’t been shown this term.
“There’s also the situation around the manager. McGregor didn’t say there can’t be a repeat of the Wilfried Nancy scenario – but he didn’t have to.
“He was talking about his own future but this is about the future of the club, and the direction it’s going. And the board should take heed.”
It was uncharted territory for the Hoops captain to speak so openly about discussions regarding his future at the club.
Will we be revisiting them in the summer after he leaves? Let’s all hope not…
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