TRIUMPHANT captain Callum McGregor led Celtic to their fourth successive title and revealed afterwards he was “in a bad mood” following the 1-1 stalemate with St Mirren in the final encounter at Parkhead for the 2024/25 season.
The champions had to rely on a stoppage-time goal from the club’s most decorated player James Forrest to prevent defeat from the Paisley club who had taken the lead shortly after the interval through Jonah Ayunga.
As the clock ticked down in the added-on five minutes, it looked as though the Hoops were going to bring down the curtain with a surprise loss in front of 60,000 packed into Paradise and prepared to party.
CONCERNED…Brendan Rodgers can’t disguise his frustration as he sits in the dug-out beside Gavin Strachan as Celtic toil against St Mirren.
Forrest, with his first goal of the campaign to maintain a wonderful 16-year sequence, came to the rescue with a first-time drive that left Saints keeper Zach Hemming completely flummoxed as it flew unerringly into the net.
After the trophy presentation, Celtic’s thirteenth championship in 14 years and their 55th crown in their illustrious history, McGregor, speaking to BBC Sportscene, admitted: “You have to detach yourself a little bit, but if I’m brutally honest, I’m probably still in a bad mood about the game.
“I’m a bit annoyed. I’ll get that out of my system in the next 48 hours and we have to be ready for the Cup Final.
“We’ve been so good we deserve the three trophies, so we now have to go again and prove it.”
McGregor’s mood lightened as he celebrated his 24th honour, just two behind marathon man Forrest.
Speaking this time to Celtic TV, the 31-year-old influential midfielder, continued: “What’s amazing is the fact James and I have come through the academy.
PARADISE…Callum McGregor applauds the Celtic fans as the champions take a lap of honour.
“For any of the young lads watching, they now see the platform you can have and what you can actually go on to achieve.
“The Lisbon Lions felt like myths and legends that you could never get close to, and now James and I are in that bracket. We’ve been really successful Celtic players and now it feels normal.
“If I win another one and another one, then the numbers just keep going. It helps normalise it for me and James. Hopefully, now the next guys coming through will see that as well.
“James has been an unbelievable servant for the club. Legend is the term we can use for him because he is out there on his own.”
McGregor added: “Even the other night, his level of performance was so, so high. He helps the team so much. It could not happen to a better guy.
“He’s so humble, the way he lives his life and the way he goes about his business. He is just the perfect example for young guys to follow.”
Now the focus shifts to Hampden on Saturday as Celtic’s serial winners get ready for the challenge of Aberdeen who stand in the way of the club’s sixth treble in nine phenomenal years.
FAIRYTALE AS FORREST HAS FINAL SAY
