Callum McGregor added to his impressive tally this season with his third goal of the campaign during Celtic’s commanding victory in the Glasgow Derby.
His goal, which eclipses his total from last season, capped off a performance that earned him the Man of the Match accolade, as voted by the Celtic supporters. It was no easy decision, given the number of standout performances on the day.
Among the many contenders for the honour were fellow goalscorers Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi, both of whom were instrumental in Celtic’s dominant display.
Others, including Paulo Bernardo, Alistair Johnston, Greg Taylor, Liam Scales, and Nicolas Kuhn, also made strong cases with their contributions across the pitch.
After the match, McGregor reflected on the comprehensive nature of Celtic’s win, suggesting that the final scoreline might not fully reflect their dominance.
“The performance, quality of goals, quality of defending, the way the team worked for each other, it had a bit of everything and we were probably unlucky not to get more goals,” McGregor told The Herald.
The Celtic captain was quick to acknowledge the strength of their Old Firm rivals, despite the emphatic scoreline.
“I think we’re a good side. I think Rangers are a good side as well; they probably had a little bit more possession than what they have had in previous games. But there’s more than one way to win a football match, and especially in transition today, I thought we were outstanding.”
McGregor praised Celtic’s counter-attacking prowess, noting how they consistently troubled Rangers on the break.
“We were so dangerous, got three, probably could have got four or five really if we look after the ball in that transition moment,” he said.
While the victory could easily lead to discussions about a growing gap between the two sides, McGregor urged caution, emphasising the need for continued hard work and improvement.
“It’s easy to say there’s a gap because the scoreline suggests it, but there’s only a gap in football if you continue to work hard and keep pressing home when you’ve got that advantage.”
McGregor’s leadership was evident as he discussed the team’s mentality, focusing on internal standards rather than external comparisons.
“Our mentality is us; we have to judge ourselves based on what we demand for the group and everything else then becomes irrelevant,” he stated.
“We speak about that every day, we have to demand the maximum out of each other in training and games and then if we do that, then our level will be as high as it possibly can. And then when teams come and play against us, can they get to that level? But for sure we have to keep moving forward.”
Reflecting on his own form, McGregor attributed his recent goal-scoring streak to being in the right place at the right time.
“I just think sometimes you get yourself into these positions and when your luck’s in and you feel good, then they seem to go in, so I’m happy with that,” he said.
Ultimately, McGregor remained focused on the collective effort, underscoring the importance of the team’s success.
“The most important thing is the team and how we played and the results, so, a good afternoon.”