CALLUM MCGREGOR says that Sunday’s scrappy win over Rangers in the Betfred Cup final is his best victory in an Old Firm derby to date.
The midfielder has certainly been involved in better performances against Rangers than the one Celtic put in as they scrapped their way to glory at Hampden, but in terms of the magnitude of the win, he says hasn’t been involved in any greater.
The free-flowing passing game that Celtic are renowned for and the style that McGregor thrives under was nowhere to be seen at the national stadium, but while the manner of the victory may well have been more about attrition than attractive football, it made it all the sweeter according to the Scotland midfielder.
He is hoping too that the sickening disappointment felt by rivals Rangers lingers, and can possibly have a lasting impact throughout the season ahead after throwing everything at Celtic and still coming up short.
McGregor said: “I think that’s the top one, in terms of pure endeavour to win the game, will to win, the boys sticking together, the big man (Fraser Forster) making some huge saves – and obviously there being a trophy on the line.
“All these other games, it’s been three points, the league has maybe been tight. But on Sunday we knew the pressure was massive on us. We had to keep this run going.
“Because Rangers hadn’t won a trophy for so long, it meant so much to them. But I think all the pressure was on us. We had to stop them winning.
"Rangers probably couldn’t play much better than they did against us at Hampden. And we’ve somehow managed to win the game."
Celtic manager Neil Lennon will rest several of his key men for Thursday's Europa League game against Cluj, with the Scottish champions having already secured top spot in their qualification group.
But he says that whoever does take to the field in Romania will be well up for the contest.
"I think we’ll have enough in the tank," he said. "It was a big performance at Hampden but we’ll have had a few days to recover.
"It’s that old psychological thing, when you’re winning, you don’t feel tired.
"That’s 12 wins in a row in all competitions."
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