Eventful. Crazy. Dramatic. And simply magic. What a night for Celtic as they beat Rangers in the League Cup final.
It didn’t start like everyone wanted because Celtic simply weren’t themselves in the first half, including Rangers opening the scoring.
Let’s be honest, the build-up play was passive, slow and error-prone, as proven by Greg Taylor’s mistake, but Celtic, led by Callum McGregor, just continued to go again and again.
Given the importance McGregor plays in the build-up and how he allows the attackers to have more freedom, he is then targeted more than others, including being man-marked.
That was touched upon by Michael Stewart during the game.
Callum McGregor needs to ‘accept’ that somebody is marking him
For several years, whether it’s Rodgers in the dugout or Ange Postecoglou, the man donning the armband has been key to winning the big games.
Therefore, it shouldn’t be a surprise that he is a target, as was the case against Rangers.
Stewart explained that there are times when McGregor needs to ‘accept’ that there is ‘somebody sitting on him’.
And, as a result, he needs to move the ball out of his feet quicker rather than remaining on the ball and riding the challenge, as he told Premier Sports (15/12/24 at 4:35 pm).
“See, for me, sometimes he has to accept that there is somebody sitting on him,” said Stewart. “You have to try and play the ball forward first and then he can play off them.
“If they can get past Bajrami, that’s sitting on him or Igamane, hit somebody further forward and then look for Callum to bounce off them. You still have got more bodies in there when you get the fullback coming in. They need to utilise it.”
McGregor has never lost a final after Celtic beat Rangers
Celtic’s most decorated player list is starting to change again and again. McGregor is pushing up the list, but he is still behind his teammate, James Forrest.
By the end of it all, the duo might end up number one and two on that trophy list, which would be incredible and deserved.
McGregor has never lost a final and he admitted on Premier Sports after the match that Celtic were ‘nowhere near the level’.
“We played nowhere near the level,” said McGregor. “It’s a cup final and there’s nerves that play a part but we didn’t really start playing until 10-15 minutes into the second half.
“It was one of those cup ties where anything could happen. Credit to the players they showed so much quality under immense pressure. [I feel] unbelievable pride. It was a tough game, relieved to come through it.
“When you come here it’s about winning, when you’re playing against your biggest rivals the pressure is much bigger.”
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