McGregor says Celtic title win will be his most special yet
Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor already has two Scottish championship medals but he reckons his third will be the most special yet.
Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor already has two Scottish championship medals but he reckons his third will be the most special yet.
Aberdeen's win over Hearts means the Hoops cannot now claim the Premiership title when they face Dundee at Dens Park on Sunday.
But that is only delaying the inevitable for Brendan Rodgers' unbeaten table toppers, who must wait at the earliest until the April 2 clash with Hearts at Tynecastle to seal their sixth successive crown.
The Parkhead side have swept all domestic rivals aside this season and will be all set for a treble triumph if they can see off Rangers in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-finals next month.
It has been a campaign to remember for Celtic and for that reason, 23-year-old McGregor admits he will cherish the honours coming his way more than any he has collected previously.
He said: "I've got two winners' medals but I think this one will feel all the more special because of the way we've done it.
"Winning titles at any level, in any league is excellent, but the way we've done it this year is incredible. If we can cross the line unbeaten it'll be a great achievement for everyone.
"To win the league in March would have been a great achievement. Everybody has worked so hard for it with that relentlessness that's seen us unbeaten in every game. It'll be great to get over the line.''
The Hoops have been scintillating to watch at times this term but McGregor confessed they were not at their best as they were held by Rangers in last weekend's Old Firm duel.
Stuart Armstrong put the hosts ahead at Celtic Park but Clint Hill handed Rangers a late leveller which was lapped up by the beleaguered Ibrox ranks.
While the Light Blues were delighted to salvage a point from a venue where they shipped five goals earlier this season, McGregor says the disappointed Hoops are now determined to take out their frustrations on Paul Hartley's Dundee men.
And the former Scotland Under-21 international reckons victory this weekend is the best way to ensure his team are on their way back to top form in time to face Rangers again at Hampden on April 23.
"It's been good in training this week,'' he said. "It was a draw and we were obviously disappointed. They celebrated like they'd won it. Maybe that was because of the circumstances of the game, with them scoring late on.
"But we just focus on the positives. It's another game unbeaten and another point closer to winning the league.
"A draw was probably a fair result in terms of the game but it spurs on for Sunday and will make us more determined to kick on for the semi-final.
"The manager is always telling us to be relentless in every game that we play. When we get across the line there's no way we're going to take our foot off the gas. We want to keep going and keep winning games. That's the way it's going to be.''