CALLUM McGREGOR insists there will be no flagging from Celtic on Flag Day at Parkhead tomorrow.
The Hoops captain will again lead the champions into a new Premiership campaign after his debut success last time out after taking over from Aberdeen-bound Scott Brown as the team’s onfield leader.
McGregor will be tasked with unfurling the championship flag before the action gets underway in the 4.30pm kick-off against Jim Goodwin’s Dons who lost all three of their league games last term against Ange Postecoglou’s outfit by the odd goal.
JUST CHAMPION…Callum McGregor proudly holds aloft the Premiership silverware after the 6-0 romp against Motherwell at Parkhead on May 14.
The Scotland international midfielder said: “It’s a very exciting and proud moment. it’s a huge honour for the club to ask me to do it.
“Once we get that out the way, it’s about looking forward to the football which is what we do best.
“We just want the game to come around now. We’ve had a good few weeks of preparation in terms of training, fitness and tactical work so we are at the point now where we want the games to start now.
“The closer you get to the new season there’s that excitement and anticipation of what it will bring.
“The majority of us have been together for 12 months now and the manager has challenged us to try and get our starting point similar to where we left off last year.”
“The challenge for us as a group of players is to try and get better, so it’s an exciting time for the team.”
Postecoglou has recruited four new players in the summer with Australian World Cup anchorman Aaron Mooy, Argentinian left-back Alexandro Bernabei and Swiss keeper Benji Siegrist signing permanent deals while German centre-back Moritz Jenz has arrived on a season-long loan from French outfit Lorient.
SMILES BETTER…Ange Postecoglou and Callum McGregor with the title trophy as Carl Starfelt and Giorgos Giakoumakis join in.
McGregor, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “The new boys have been great and have come in and settled in well.
“They are adding to the core of good professionals and people we already have, so having as many of them as possible gives you a good chance to be successful.
“The training has been very good and competitive, even in the pre-season games, there’s been an edge to the games as well which can be unusual.
“We’ve played at a good tempo and, hopefully, the way we train every day is preparing us for the games and we want to attack tomorrow, put in a big performance and start the season off in a good light.
“We understand everyone starts on zero points and if you want to win the league then you have to be consistent in how you perform and train every day.
“That’s no different for us and when we get the opportunity in the games then we have to show that and try and get results on a game-by-game basis.”
