McGregor dreams of Madrid... and Modric

CALLUM McGregor last night admitted he is dreaming of drawing Real Madrid in the Champions League next season and settling a personal score with Luka Modric.

The Parkhead captain has sampled plenty of big European nights over the years but he is yet to visit the Santiago Bernabeu in the Spanish capital.

The 29-year-old would also relish going toe-to-toe again with Modric after the Real star ran the show at Hampden as Croatia ended Scotland’s involvement at Euro 2020 last summer.

Modric capped a vintage performance that night by scoring a wonder goal in his side’s convincing 3-1 victory over Steve Clarke’s men.

Asked who he was hoping to face in this season’s Champions League when the draw is made on August 25, McGregor said: ‘Everyone keeps asking me that.

‘I’ve played at some pretty big stadiums but the one I haven’t played yet is Real Madrid and I think everyone would probably join me in saying they want them in the group.

‘Against Modric again, 12 months on, he ran the show that day (at the Euros, below), so I will try and get a bit closer to him.

‘We’re looking forward to it whoever we get. It’s a big competition and it will be a big test for us, so we have to be ready.

‘Champions League nights are special. It is the No 1 competition that you want to play in. It certainly makes you a better player.’

The change in mood in Celtic’s pre-season tour of Austria and the Czech Republic, where they face Banik Ostrava in a friendly today, could not be more removed to the feel around the club 12 months earlier.

Inheriting a team that finished 21 points behind title winners Rangers, Ange Postecoglou jetted in from Japan to replace Neil Lennon.

The Australian quickly set about overhauling the Celtic squad with quality new recruits while stamping his attacking ethos on the team.

One year on there is now stability and continuity at Celtic and McGregor feels they are well placed to build on last season’s league and League Cup-winning double. But he warned the squad that the achievements of last season are now firmly in the past as Celtic focus on securing the trophies of the future.

‘There was a lot of uncertainty at the start of last season,’ McGregor told Celtic TV. ‘We weren’t sure what direction the club was going in and we needed a lot of players.

‘But when you come back now for pre-season there’s a continuity. The manager has implemented his message in terms of the way he wants his team to train and play.

‘The new boys have been here for 12 months and we are adding a couple of faces which should add to the quality and freshness of the group. Twelve months on we are in a better place.

‘We had reasonable success last season. Now the challenge is: can we go again? Can we better last season’s achievements? That has to be the aim for this group.

‘Last season the success was great. We’ve banked it, but it’s over now. Everyone starts at zero points in the new season and it’s all about what you do next.

‘It’s about trying to better your own game. There’s the excitement of a new season to spur you on.

‘The challenge is there. Can we go and be champions and retain the league? That has to be the No 1 goal.

‘Then there’s the added excitement of the Champions League but you only get that by doing your bread and butter and doing the basics and getting the league title in the trophy cabinet. ‘It’s going to be an exciting season. There’s real hunger in this squad to do well. People can say we are a good team but we have to show it

every week.’