There’s nothing ordinary about Celtic’s class act McGregor
LET’S suspend reality for a second and roll with the notion that he was raised in Prague or Paris as opposed to Pollok.
Ignore the fact he came through the ranks at Celtic and had to go out on loan at Notts County to cut his teeth. Think of a behemoth of the European game, a high seven-digit price and imagine he arrived here via a show-stopping transfer.
Finally, dispense with the ordinariness of his name. Replace plain old Callum McGregor with something a little more exotic.
What’s the difference? In terms of ability, clearly absolutely nothing. In terms of many people’s perception of the Celtic midfielder, a great deal.
And there’s the rub. Because perhaps only in Scotland could a supreme talent like the 24-year-old’s be underplayed and questioned simply because he was born here.
The evidence of our own eyes repeatedly suggests McGregor can hold his own with some of the great game’s most feted midfielders. Quite why there’s a reluctance to fully embrace this fact is perplexing.
Celebrating his 150th Celtic appearance against Zenit St Petersburg, the player’s sumptuous winning goal was only a fraction of his contribution.
Repeatedly taking the ball on the half turn and driving at the Russian’s rearguard, his technique and touch were simply too much for them.
On a night when Brendan Rodgers’ depleted and rejigged side had nothing approaching a failure, the man in the No10 role came mighty close to scoring perfect marks.
‘The idea of the way we want to play is so that it gives our players a personality to play with that high level of technique and to have a good tactical idea of the game,’ said Rodgers.
‘His goal reminds me of a goal Frank Lampard scored at Stamford Bridge against Bayern Munich.
‘The ball came over and he had to swivel on his left-hand side to finish it from a really difficult angle.
‘That was like Callum’s goal because he had to go up and swivel on his right foot and then finish. He was absolutely outstanding.’
Few who left a pulsating Celtic Park after McGregor’s goal had secured a precious one-goal lead at half-time in the tie would have been inclined to disagree with that sentiment.
The pleasing thing, from Rodgers’ perspective, is that McGregor is capable of delivering for him in any number of positions.
Yet such versatility should not be confused with mediocrity. Six of his 26 career goals have come in Europe. He has also scored twice against Rangers. Evidently, he has a knack of making his presence felt on the big occasion.
‘He can play in a number of positions and he plays them all to a very high level,’ added Rodgers. ‘On Thursday, we played him off the front to support but also in the midfield so we had four against three.
‘Callum finds space very well and he is a goal threat. I remember looking at the team before I came in and he was a young player who scored big goals in big games.
‘Sometimes it might not have been enough to go through or to qualify but he has always had the ability to score big goals and he has shown that throughout my time here as well. He is an outstanding young player.’
No praise was too high for the way Rodgers bookended three home losses in the Champions League with victory against a side which invested £80million last summer.
That they did it without Leigh Griffiths, Tom Rogic, Scott Sinclair and Patrick Roberts made the result all the more laudable.
The tantalising thing, from the manager’s perspective, is the increased options he should soon enjoy.
‘We are now starting to get one or two back to fitness the likes of Patrick and Tom,’ he explained.
‘And in a few weeks’ time, that will give us a real strength in depth and quality going forward for the rest of the season.
‘What is important is the squad. We have really talented players but we have a lot of games to play. We need a big squad because you can’t play in every single game.’
From nowhere, the green touch paper has apparently been lit. Unconvincing even in some victories since hostilities resumed, Thursday night’s collective display suggested those proclaiming Rodgers’ side were in decline may have to think again. Despite not scoring, Moussa Dembele looked alert and interested. The striker’s influence coursed throughout team.
‘Moussa was right back on it,’ said Rodgers. ‘The touch, quality, strength, power and everything was there. He was absolutely brilliant and occupied the back four on his own.
‘We went through a harsh period there with a lot of players out and we became a bit more functional. Our team is about speed, power and that penetrative side.’
No one ever questioned if Dembele had it in him. In Eboue Kouassi’s case, a powerhouse display in a more advanced midfield role could not have been more timely.
Illness and injury had previously prevented the Ivorian from showing why Celtic had paid Krasnodar £3m for his services a year ago. Back in the faces of Russian opponents, the teenager emphatically answered the mounting questions.
‘He has been very unfortunate and it is purely the way I have set the team up,’ added Rodgers. ‘I don’t really go with two holding midfield players because I tend to go and attack.
‘It normally just leaves Scott (Brown) as the controlling player, so he has missed out in a number of games but he is going to be a big player for the future of this club.’
The concern for Rodgers ahead of next Thursday’s return is obvious. Fresh from their winter break, Zenit were a disappointment in Glasgow. In all likelihood they will be more potent in their own back yard.
Celtic, though, will travel with renewed belief. Three confidencesapping home defeats are now consigned to history. They now have a degree of expectation.
‘I thought we were brilliant, especially in the first-half,’ said defender Mikael Lustig. ‘There’s obviously still 90 minutes to go but we have more confidence now that we did before Thursday’s game.’