THIS WOULD CAP IT ALL

After pain comes the gain for Bhoys skipper

BY

EVEN now, the emotion of it is etched on Callum McGregor’s face.

The Celtic captain is on the cusp of lifting the Premiership title and sealing a domestic double for Ange Postecoglou’s side.

For the Parkhead skipper it’s that pain of a year ago which will make this success all the sweeter.

As a Celtic player – and supporter – McGregor was hurt by the capitulation of their 10-in-a-row bid as Rangers romped to the league flag unbeaten.

The Scotland midfielder took it badly. But scoring for his country at the Euros, followed by Postecoglou’s arrival in Glasgow, quickly got his head back in the game.

If Celtic beat Rangers today in the final derby of the season, they’ll be all but confirmed as champions.

For the 28-year-old it will be the high point of his career.

It will also vindicate his decision to stay and lead boss Postecoglou’s revolution.

McGregor said: “I took it personally last season – what we went through as a club.

“There was a load of press surrounding it. Boys left (Scott Brown, Kris Ajer Ryan Christie, Odsonne Edouard) and it was the end of an era, a successful team.

“Everybody then asks, ‘Can they go again, can HE do it again?’ That was the question off the back of a poor season.

“So I wanted to come back and show people it was a oneoff and that we could go again.

“I wanted us to be a successful team in our own right.

“I didn’t want it to be Brendan’s [Rodgers] team or [Neil] Lennon’s team or Broonie’s team, whatever.

“We had to create our own history as a new group of players. That was the biggest challenge. It was a fresh start, a clean slate and a chance to prove people wrong again.

“When the new players and manager came through the door, I thought, ‘They fancy this.’ You could see it in their eyes.

“They’ve obviously been brilliant so far and it’s just about us staying calm now and finishing the season in the right manner.”

McGregor has already won six league winner’s medals but this one would be the most special.

For a boy who was farmed out to Notts County on loan nine years ago, it will be just reward for the graft he has put in to become Celtic’s leader.

He said: “Will it be the pinnacle of my career to lift the trophy as captain? Absolutely.

“Just to captain the club is a massive honour. It would be a dream come true. It would be the culmination of the hard work I have put in, even going back to my younger days.”