CALLUM McGREGOR insists the Viaplay League Cup adventure is now on the backburner until next month.
The Celtic captain, fresh from the 2-0 weekend semi-final victory over Kilmarnock, has now switched his focus to the Premiership with St Mirren due to provide the competition at Parkhead on Wednesday.
And then the 29-year-old influential midfielder will give the Scottish Cup meeting with Championship side Morton his full attention when another Hampden journey kicks off in the east end of Glasgow at 12.15pm on Saturday.
CELTIC INSPIRATION…Callum McGregor on the ball as the Hoops book another Cup Final spot.
The champions have a score to settle with the Paisley club who inflicted their only league defeat in 16 months after the 2-0 shock setback in September.
McGregor said: “Our objective was to get to the Cup Final and we have done that. We park it now.
“We have a big game during the week and then another Cup game at the weekend. As always, the next game is the most important for us.”
The anchorman will now lead his players at Hampden next month for the derby clash with the League Cup up for grabs and he goes there in the knowledge he has never lost a major Final with the Hoops.
McGregor smiled: “Don’t jinx me!”
Ange Postecoglou’s onfield leader, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Obviously, it is good to get there. Like I said, that was the objective.
IN CONTROL…Callum McGregor playing a captain’s part as usual as Celtic overcome Kilmarnock and now prepare for St Mirren and Morton.
“But there is a lot of football to be played between now and then and when the Final comes around, the ambition is to win it.
We are tasked to bring success to this club and that’s what we’ll try to do.”
McGregor neatly sidestepped the furore over Killie manager Derek McInnes’ claims his side deserved a penalty-kick when the game was still 1-0 after Daizen Maeda’s opener.
There was a coming together of Giorgos Giakoumakis and Joe Wright as they went for a long throw-in from Ash Taylor and both players went down in a heap.
McInnes and Wright were adamant referee Willie Collum, who had already chalked off two Celtic goals, should have pointed to the spot or at least been advised to have a review.
McGregor, though, added: “I don’t think so. When the ball gets thrown in the box like that, both teams are going to be physical to try and gain an advantage.
“I don’t think there was anything in it.”
