CELTSSKIPPER ISFIVE STAR
the Hoops are firmly on the right track.
He’s set his sights on reclaiming the Premiership crown – and driving Celts to the Champions League group stages.
McGregor said: “I love this club, I love everything about it. I love representing it and I love winning silverware. This is the only place I want to play football and I’m just delighted the club feel the same.
“It’s great for everyone that they’ve committed to a long-term contract. I sat down with the board and the guys. They’re very, very positive in terms of where they see the club going.
“Looking at the incentive for winning the league, it takes you back into the Champions League.
“And that takes you into an elite bracket of clubs, which is where you want to be playing your football.
“We’ve been there so many times where you win the league but still have to go and play qualifiers.
“But with the co-efficient being so good now and Scottish football being in a good place, we’ve earned that right to have our title winners go straight in.
“So it’s a great place to be, it’s ultra competitive – and it’s a real incentive for us to get back on top.”
McGregor has been linked with clubs in England for several years – with former boss Brendan Rodgers at Leicester a huge admirer.
But he insisted he didn’t think twice about putting pen to paper on a new deal.
He said: “It’s a great day and I’m just delighted to have signed on for another five years. We’ll take it step by step, I think.
“I love playing for this club, I love the idea of staying here. I’m enjoying my football – and I feel like I’m in a really good period of my career, where I can help this club move forward.
“I’m glad they feel the same and have put a lot of faith in me to drive it along. I think all parties were quite keen to do it.”
McGregor has racked up an incredible 337 games in his seven seasons in the Hoops first team but has been forced to sit out Celtic’s last three games with a hamstring problem.
He won’t make the clash with Dundee United tomorrow but is fighting to be fit to face Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League on Thursday.
McGregor said: “It’s getting better, I’m hoping to be fit next week. I’m just stepping it up a little bit on the grass this week.
“Hopefully there’s no reaction and I’ll be looking to get back in next week at some point, so I’m nearly there.”
Hoops boss Postecoglou was thrilled to see his on-field general pledge his future to the club.
He said: “It’s brilliant news. Obviously it was an important year for Cal stepping up to be the new captain and he’s already shown his outstanding qualities.
“He espouses the values I’m after. He understands what we’re trying to build and, on and off the field, he’s not just talking about it, he’s living it and he’s showing the behaviour I want leaders to show, and I think it’s exciting with what’s ahead.”