POLE POSITION
Hoops skipper Mcgregor champing at the bit to raise his first league flag as captain at Parkhead
CALLUM MCGREGOR admits he’s bursting with pride at the prospect of unfurling the Premiership flag at Parkhead on Sunday.
But the Hoops skipper insists his burning desire is to make sure it’s still at Celtic Park at the end of the season.
Mcgregor will do the honours for the first time as captain before Ange Postecoglou’s men kick off their title defence against Aberdeen.
The 29-year-old is looking forward to a Parkhead party but his focus is on getting his side off to a flier.
Mcgregor said: “It’s amazing. When the guys asked me to do it, it was a super proud moment. You think of the great names who have done it over the years.
“For the club to ask me to do it is a huge honour for me and for my family to be able to watch it.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to do it.
“It’s always a great day. You get to unfurl the flag at Celtic Park and there’s a real buzz about the place, a real energy and anticipation of the new season.
“It’s important we get our mindset right in the next couple of days in training to make sure we produce a good performance and obviously get a good result.”
Celtic defied the odds to wrestle the Premiership crown back to the East End of Glasgow last season after a ropey start to the campaign and a total rebuild under Postecoglou.
The champions are now the team to beat and Mcgregor is expecting an even tougher test this time out.
Speaking to Celtic TV, he said: “It’s so important that we draw a line in terms of last season and being successful.
“This is a new season, with new challenges.
“It’s up to us as experienced ones to guide the group through that.
“The players who came in did brilliantly last season and for them, it’s another challenge to say, ‘Can we go again and produce that level – and potentially even more – in the season coming?’
“Everybody is well aware of the challenges that are lying ahead and we have to commit to them together as a group.
“If everyone does that and gives everything then hopefully we will be in a good place.”
Mcgregor is convinced Celtic will be stronger this season with the wholesale changes from last term now leading to a more settled group.
He said: “We are a year on from where we started and obviously that will bring different challenges.
“That’s what we have been talking about during pre-season – we need to handle all the challenges that will be thrown at us.
“We believe the answers will lie within the squad and the mentality within the group.
“There will be different challenges but we have to rise to that. Every time we go on the pitch we have to give our best to get better and get results.”
Celts have been handed a tough opener against Jim
Goodwin’s
Dons side that sailed through the
Premier Sports
Cup group stages.
Mcgregor said: “Everybody wants to start in a positive manner.
“Aberdeen will be the same. Jim’s sides are always really organised and tactically astute.
“It will be a tough game and we will have to be ready. We need a positive result to start the season. The full focus is on kicking off with three points.”
I was so proud to be asked to raise the flag it’s a massive honour for me
and my family