CELTIC are on the cusp of clinching their fourth consecutive championship when they face Dundee United at Tannadice tomorrow afternoon.
Brendan Rodgers’ side are a mere point from sealing their thirteenth title in 14 years and the 55th crown in the club’s glorious history.
The Hoops can make absolutely certain of Flag Day celebrations in Paradise on Saturday May 17 when St Mirren visit and the curtain comes down on another triumphant crusade.
Callum McGregor, the team’s influential onfield leader who has chipped in with 10 goals this season, is eager to get the task completed in fine style and admitted: “We’re excited, we’ve prepared well and now we have a really good opportunity to go and cross the finishing line.
CHAMPIONS AGAIN…Callum McGregor celebrates the 5-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park last season that clinched the title for a 54th time.
“That will be the culmination of all the hard work that we’ve put in since pre-season.
“Once you get across the line, it makes everything worth it.
“Every title is slightly different because every season has its challenges and you’ve got to find the solution as you go.
“You start pre-season with the idea of trying to win as much as you can and win every game.
“Throughout that there will be challenges and you have to bounce back and be strong as a group.
“Every one is special because for 10 or 11 months of the year, everything you do is about football and trying to be successful.
“So, once you get across that it’s a really nice feeling that all your hard work has paid off.”
Jim Goodwin’s side proved to be stubborn opponents when the teams clashed at the same venue just before the turn of the year. A strangely-subdued Hoops fired blanks in a scoreless stalemate.
LOOKING FOR TREBLE…Callum McGregor leads the victory parade as Celtic win the Premier Sports League Cup after the penalty-kick shoot-out conclusion at Hampden in December. One down and two to go in the pursuit of phenomenal ninth clean sweep of domestic honours.
The champions demonstrated more potency in the two outings in the east end of Glasgow with goals from Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate giving the hosts a 2-0 victory in January and McGregor, Filipe Jota and Adam Idah getting the job done in a 3-0 success the following month.
The 32-year-old Celtic captain anticipates another stern test on Tayside against a team chasing a European place.
McGregor, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “The players are focused and they know what needs to be done. Dundee United will be a hard challenge for us.
“They gave us a good game up there the last time and the games at Celtic Park have been tough, as well, so we have to be right on the money.
“We’re coming in to the game with good momentum, so we’ll aim to produce more of the same and, hopefully, that’ll take us across the finish line.”
