SNS GroupCallum McGregor feels he can help “build something special” with Celtic’s returning management team.
McGregor’s future has been a topic of discussion since the captain stressed in April that he wanted to continue playing for Celtic but also make sure the club “continue to push”.
Celtic’s summer business has not been particularly convincing, though, after long-term struggles in the transfer market sparked serious division between the board and fans – and former manager Brendan Rodgers – over the past 18 months.
The Scottish champions have finally signed a proven striker in Camilo Duran, but much of the transfer talk in recent days has centred around the potential departures of key players such as Arne Engels and Daizen Maeda.
Manager Martin O’Neill also admitted he would seek talks with McGregor over his thoughts and the 33-year-old has now delivered an interview with club media in which he assured fans of his motivation for the new campaign.
Discussing the return of O’Neill and the bulk of his coaching staff following their interim heroics, McGregor told CelticPlayer: “All amazing guys who gave absolutely everything for the club and the cause last season. Especially second time round, it would have been easy to stay away, and they took that challenge.
“That tells you the type of people they are: they like a challenge, they face it head on. That’s exactly the way I am as well as a player and a person.
“So to see them back in the dugout and everybody back together (gives) that nice feeling that we can move forward and build something special.”
When asked how motivated he was after taking his major trophy count to 26 with last season’s double, the midfielder said: “That’s the job of a Celtic player, that you don’t get tired of winning.
“We have set ourselves an unbelievable standard over the last 14, 15 years, being successful, winning numerous titles, trophies, trying to push all the time in European football to be as good as we can be.
“And all that does is bring bigger expectation, a bigger target on your back, so you then have to work even harder to defend it.
“The players and the core group that have been here for a long time understand that and they have to drive that level.
“As a Celtic player you can never ever be bored of winning and trying to be the best that you can be and trying to improve individually and collectively.”
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