HUDDLE AFTER HAMPDEN PAIN WAS KEY MOVE FROM SKIPPER

CALLUM McGREGOR has revealed the motive behind his decision to summon his Celtic team-mates for a postmatch huddle at Hampden.

A late extra-time winner from Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final ended hopes of a Parkhead Treble this season, but McGregor was determined to immediately channel that disappointment.

Mindful that today’s final league meeting of the sides was rolling round quickly, the Celtic skipper urged his players to pull together in a show of unity that he hopes will see the title effectively clinched as Rangers visit Glasgow’s east end.

‘The semi-final was probably one of the very few slaps in the face that we have had as a group,’ he said. ‘From September onwards, we have been pretty much perfect in the league and it was just a case of saying we don’t allow this one result to drag on and then suddenly the whole thing breaks down because of one result.

‘It was important we stayed together as a team and didn’t break off into groups. We had five games to go and win the league and that was what we were going to do.

‘It was basically just a show of togetherness and agreeing we were going to go and attack this.’