Brendan Rodgers yesterday outlined the importance of Callum McGregor in his Celtic team and also revealed that the prospect of working with him again was a major factor in his decision to accept the Celtic job for a return to Paradise after Ange Postecoglou left for Tottenham.
Rodgers was asked what is it like to see Callum McGregor mature as a captain and a person over the years? Here’s his response and he could not have been more emphatic in stressing the significance of Calmac to his side and his decision to come back when offered the job in June 2023.
Rodgers praises Callum McGregor
“It’s been amazing to see. He was a talented young player. What Callum did was he was very patient in his development,” Brendan said.
I see lots of young players here and now across other clubs, they want to be in first teams at 17 and 18. That’s now always the case.
“You look at Callum coming through and getting a great education from the coaches here. He then goes out on loan to Notts County, comes back and by the time he’s 21 he’s starting to get the feel for the first team.
Absolutely phenomenal
“It was one of the big factors for me coming back. I’ve got to be honest – knowing that he was here because he was absolutely phenomenal for me in that first season.
The number of positions he played. His view of the game is that the very highest ever. I’ve been lucky to have worked with some great captains, some brilliant captains. He’s right up there with them.
“All captains do it in different ways. For me, just to see his growth as a player and as a personality on the field …to captain a club like Celtic you need to have a big personality on and off the pitch but you also need to have humility and that’s what always strikes me with Callum.
Absolutely brilliant player
“He’s an absolutely brilliant player. He was majorly influential in my coming back here,” Rodgers admitted.
“To work with someone like that, knowing what he would bring, knowing his professionalism is at the very highest level of all the players I’ve ever worked with, and then his performance level.
“It’s great to see. He’s developed into an incredible player and a great man also.”
Callum McGregor also spoke to the media at Lennoxtown yesterday afternoon on the eve of today’s huge Glasgow Derby at Celtic Park where he will be looking to drive Celtic onto a victory that will open up a six points gap and a significant goal difference gap with just two games to go – Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in midweek and then St Mirren a week today at Celtic Park.
Make some Noise for the Bhoys
Let’s get the job done today Bhoys and will Brendan Rodgers and Callum McGregor both having outstanding records in the Glasgow Derby fixture then we can head to Paradise with confidence in our manager, our captain and our team.
Every single Celtic supporter at the game has their own responsibility to bring as much Celtic Noise to the occasion as possible and to play our part as Celtic’s 12th man, woman or child this afternoon.
COYBIG
