Callum McGregor prepared for derby showdown at Paradise

In partnership with

Celtic F.C.

·10 May 2024

Callum McGregor prepared for derby showdown at Paradise

Celtic captain, Callum McGregor, is ready for Saturday’s Glasgow derby, and will look to his own vast experience in the fixture as he and his team-mates go on the hunt for three vital league points.

The Celts have spent the week preparing for Saturday’s match knowing that a win would put them six points clear with only two games remaining of the league campaign.

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Speaking ahead of the derby, McGregor explained that his side’s thoughts are fixed solely on winning this weekend’s clash and giving the Celtic supporters a memorable afternoon.

“The focus is on the game and whatever the outcome is,” he said. “Hopefully it is a positive one and that will take us one step closer to where we want to be.

‘You want to play the game and you want to find a way to win.’

“If we can do that then it means we’ve had a really good day and hopefully we can send the supporters home happy.”

The Celtic skipper has plenty of experience of dealing with the emotions and challenges of a Glasgow derby, with Saturday’s match set to be his 38th encounter with Rangers, and he says that the emotion of the game can be used to Celtic’s advantage.

“You want to be emotional when you play in the game,” he said. “You’ve got to find something different to try and get your team over the line.

“Sometimes it’s messy, sometimes it’s good football which wins you it. You have to find that right cocktail to try and win the game.”

The atmosphere within the stadium on Saturday is set to be at fever pitch, with everyone well aware of what is at stake come kick-off at 12.30pm.

But McGregor knows that, because of his experience in the fixture and his preparation in the build-up, he is perfectly equipped to be able to handle the tension.

The midfielder said: “When you play your first game, then you’re on edge, but the more games you play, the more experienced you become.

“You start to get in a routine of how you prepare yourself and your body and mind for these games.”

Brendan Rodgers’ side have worked hard to get themselves to the top spot of the Premiership table, and McGregor says that he and his team-mates can keep their cool in any circumstance.

“We’re level-headed as a group,” he said. “We don’t get too up or too down. We understand the training and the process of how we go about our business, on and off the pitch.

'That gives us the culture so that when you come to pressure in the big moments, it’s normal to the players.'

“The atmosphere last weekend was incredible,” he said. “The players felt really good after the game, and I think the supporters went home happy as well.

“We hope to replicate that as many times as we can between now and the end of the season.

"The key message is – we stick to the process, we do what we believe in and what we trust.

“If we do all of that, we then add the special ingredient with the crowd and hopefully we can have some special moments yet.”