Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HOOPS OUT TO IMPRESS NEW GAFFER
CALLUM MCGREGOR insists Celtic’s hurting stars can’t down tools because they are all fighting for their futures.
The Hoops were dumped out of the Scottish Cup by Rangers five days ago to end their hopes of salvaging silverware from a season of disappointment.
Celtic picked themselves up from that damning setback as well as falling behind at Aberdeen to rescue a point thanks to Leigh Griffiths’ stoppage-time header at Pittodrie on Wednesday night.
Mcgregor is well aware chiefs will soon be appointing a new boss and every one of his team-mates will want to ensure they remain part of the arrival’s plans.
The Scotland international knows the next manager is massive news, with Eddie Howe the frontrunner, but the squad need to focus on football.
He said: “We try not to think about it. It is a decision for the club. There is a lot of noise and subconsciously you are probably thinking about it.
“But us as players and professionals have to do our jobs, keep representing ourselves and when the club make the decision, you go again and it is a fresh slate.
“Everybody keeps pushing to impress the new manager, it doesn’t change.”
Mcgregor acknowledges pride has to be the main driving force in their remaining three games, starting against Rangers a week on Sunday.
He said: “You just keep going and keep fighting. When you have that quality, especially with Griff (inset) mwhen he gets that one chance, it is a goal.
“It could have been easy to peter out with the way things have gone. Credit to theboys, we stuck at it and got what we deserved.
“Overall a draw and us taking something out of the game (at Aberdeen) was the right result.
“That is the professionalism of the players.
“Every time you represent yourself, the club, your family, you have to do things properly, regardless of silverware – you are still playing for pride. Both teams attacked the game in that manner and it made for a good game.
“Both teams had chances and it was end-to-end stuff. A point apiece was right.”