Callum McGregor insists Celtic are being fired clear at the top of the league by the torching of a seven-point lead last season.
McGregor says they’ve learned lessons from the last campaign and are determined to keep the foot firmly down in their push for Premiership glory. The Hoops stormed seven points clear at the summit, with a game-in-hand over second-placed Aberdeen. McGregor says nobody within the champions’ squad is taking anything for granted.
He said: “No, I think we were seven or eight points clear last year and then ended up seven behind. That shows you how quickly football can change and you have to learn from that experience as well. We understand it’s a good start, of course it is, but the reason why it’s been a good start is because of the way we’re approaching the game, the way that we’re training, the relentless nature of the coaches and the players.
“Everybody, every day, is giving their absolute all and I think the squad, you can see that when boys come into the team, there’s a hunger to do well and everything’s in a good place.
“The only bit that we can control is that and then when we go to the pitch on a Saturday or a Wednesday, whatever day we’re playing, then we try to get the maximum out of that match that we possibly can. We’ve ended up in a good position, but we’re not even halfway through yet, so we know there’s so much football to be played.”
Brendan Rodgers sets the standards at Celtic and then McGregor is the lieutenant who drives and maintains them in the squad. Their trophy haul is second to none but they won’t rest until the job is done. McGregor knows it’s about maintaining that drive and hunger that is pushing standards up. He is also well aware that any complacency from within their group would simply not be tolerated.
McGregor admitted: “Yes, and I’ll be backed up by a lot of senior players, a lot of good senior pros – our building’s full of them. The staff are unbelievable, they work tirelessly.
“The work they put in every single day, the players respect that and the coaches respect the players. It’s a brilliant place to work and if anybody’s having any days like that [taking it easy], then it’s very quickly nailed. We move on and we try to work in the right way.”
Next up they face Hibs at home this weekend and then have two big games. An away trip to take on Dinamo Zagreb that could go a long way to extending their Champions League adventure and after that it is back for the Premier Sports Cup final, where they will compete with Celtic for the first trophy of the season.