CAP FRUSTRATION IS THE MOTIVATION FOR McGREGOR
McGregor can prove worth on elite stage after snub
FOR CALLUM McGregor, an opportunity to prove Gordon Strachan wrong now beckons on the big stage. There are better preparations for a critical Champions League qualifier than a mystifying Scotland snub. Yet the Celtic midfielder last night resisted the chance to fire back at the national team manager.
The chance to make his point will come soon enough. Against Real Madrid, Chelsea or — more likely given recent history — Barcelona.
Last night, McGregor was handed a starting place at the expense of Tom Rogic and, after Scotland’s champions survived a savage examination of nerve in Astana, he said: ‘I think for me coming into this game I had to brush it off and get my mind right for the game. I’ve always said that Celtic is my main priority.
‘I want to do well here and then Scotland will follow.
‘I don’t know the reasons behind it (the snub) — but all I can say is that it’s down to me to play well for Celtic and hopefully it comes.
‘I’m not the type to get upset and say things — that’s not the person I am and I’m not going to start that now.
‘I’m a positive guy and I’ve had a good start to the season with Celtic. I want to build on that.’
Brendan Rodgers admitted he was surprised and disappointed by McGregor’s omission for the World Cup qualifiers with Lithuania and Malta. Insisting the attacking midfielder can do no more, the player himself appreciated the sentiment.
‘No one had to speak to me — the professional mindset had to kick in,’ insisted McGregor. ‘Okay, it’s a disappointment but I have to focus on a big game for Celtic.
‘It was great the manager spoke well of me — he’s backed me a lot and that’s great for players to hear. I know I’m valued among the squad and with the manager.’
Insisting he will support six of his club-mates in Vilnius a week on Friday, he added: ‘I grew up watching big Scotland games and cheering the likes of James McFadden scoring the winner against France.
‘It’s a nice feeling to watch the game as a fan rather than watch it from a footballer’s point of view. I’ll definitely be cheering the boys on as there’s a lot involved from Celtic and I want them and Scotland to do well.
‘I have to keep chapping at the door and I do that by knuckling down with Celtic.’
Bolstered by a starting place in the Astana Arena, the 25-year-old created two early chances for Scott Sinclair. The first, after Astana’s own-goal opener, was saved. The second should have made for a far more comfortable second half than it turned out.
It was, at times, torrid stuff. Backs to the wall and hectic, but McGregor shrugged: ‘The main thing is that we got there. We had a cushion but we wanted to do well. At 1-1 we were fine but two quick goals made it hard and we started to think about Be’er Sheva.
‘But credit to the boys as we dug in and got the goals to see us through. You can see that on the counter-attack we can score at any time and that ability has seen us through.
‘It’s exciting to be in the Champions League for the second year in a row. Hopefully we can get a good draw on Thursday.’
Celtic have a habit of drawing Barcelona — six times in recent years — yet supporters yearn for a change of scene. Defend like last night and a trip to the Bernabeu to take on Barca’s great rivals could be an unpleasant affair.
Willing to take his chances with anyone, McGregor insisted: ‘All the chat from anyone I speak to is about Real Madrid, but listen, there’s a load of great teams and whoever we get will be fantastic.
‘I think we’re a year better off and coming into the game tonight we hadn’t conceded (in qualifying). Obviously, we’ll need to up our levels but we can fancy our chances against anyone at home.’
Reminiscent at times of Be’er Sheva last year when the Israelis attacked a 5-2 first-leg deficit with aggressive intent, the parallels were not lost on McGregor’s team-mate Kieran Tierney.
‘Have I ever played in a game like that before? Yeah, Be’er Sheva last year,’ said the left-back. ‘That was what I was reminded of.
‘Look, it got to 4-1 and people are automatically going to think the worst is going to happen. But the boys did well in that we came back and scored two goals, which shows the character we have in such a highly pressured game.
‘When they were coming at us, you have to stay as calm as you can. The manager is making you feel calm and there are leaders on the pitch such as Scott Brown who are brilliant at that. We’ve come through it and it’s a great achievement for the club once again. It is something we should be proud of.
‘I don’t mind who we get in the draw. We will get a good team in every single pot so it doesn’t really matter. I don’t want to avoid anyone. It is what is.
‘We’ll deal with it when it comes. The most important thing is Celtic are in the Champions League, the biggest competition there is.’
“No one had to speak to me. I’m a positive guy”