Celtic must improve before treble talk, says McGregor

The Hoops midfielder is hoping to end the season on a high

Published 9th Feb 2018

Callum McGregor has said last year's historic William Hill Scottish Cup final victory over Aberdeen at Hampden last year will live in his memory forever.

The midfielder has stressed the importance of the competition to the Hoops when reminiscing on Tom Rogic's last-gasp strike that gave the Parkhead side a 2-1 win to clinch the treble in their unbeaten domestic season.

Ahead of the visit of Partick Thistle in the last 16 on Saturday, the 24-year-old Scotland midfielder said: "The Scottish Cup means a great deal.

"Obviously a massive competition for us, the scenes we had that day were excellent, it was special as a group so we hold it in high regard.

"It was the last day of the season, we had so much riding on it so to win the game and get the invincible tag, and win the treble and all that, it is going to live with you to the end of your days.

"It is a special day to remember.''

McGregor was less inclined to discuss possible back-to-back trebles, with Celtic looking simply to respond positively to the 1-0 loss at Kilmarnock in the Ladbrokes Premiership last weekend.

That was only their second defeat by Scottish opposition since Brendan Rodgers took over as boss in 2016.

McGregor said: "We don't want to sit and talk about the treble again.

"We just want to get back to winning ways at the weekend and start focusing on every game the way we did last season.

"That's what got us the success so we have to go back to that and back to basics a wee bit.

"Kilmarnock played really well on the day, we never played so well. So we will definitely be looking to put it right on Saturday.''

McGregor refused to dwell on the defeat in Ayrshire, putting the result in context.

The champions sit eight points clear of Aberdeen at the top of the league with a Europa League clash against Russian side Zenit St Petersburg coming up later in the month.

The former Celtic youth player said: "We are still sitting favourites in the league and we have a decent margin as well to play with.

"We won the (Betfred) cup, we are in the last 32 of the Europa League and have been beaten twice.

"We won't get too carried away talking about defeats.

"We have been beaten twice in 100 games or something like that.

"So it is important for us that we stay positive and not listen to the criticism that comes our way.

"If you look at this season on its own, it's still been a great season.'