THE wretched memory of back-to-back Cup Final defeats will spur on Callum McGregor and Celtic when they face St Mirren in the Scottish Cup last-four encounter on Sunday afternoon.
The Hoops captain had never lost a grand finale at Hampden and had chalked up an astonishing THIRTEEN triumphs – until the showpiece shoot-out with Aberdeen at the end of last season.
The Scottish Cup Final on May 24 saw the champions take on opponents they had thrashed 5-1 at Pittodrie 10 days earlier.
A strangely lethargic Celtic team drew 1-1 with the Dons and then lost on penalty-kicks with McGregor a culprit from 12 yards along with Alistair Johnston.
FINAL AGONY…Callum McGregor is consoled by Scott Bain and Brendan Rodgers after the Scottish Cup Final penalty-kick shoot-out loss to Aberdeen in May last year.
McGregor returned to the venue with the team on December 14 and once again experienced the anguish of defeat as Wilfried Nancy’s team nosedived to a 3-1 loss to the Paisley side in the Premier Sports League Cup showpiece.
The 32-year-old influential midfielder said: “Any time you have a lowpoint or miss out on a trophy – and you can think back to the recent one with St Mirren – it’s fresh in everyone’s mind.
“So, when you arrive on these big days, it’s about trying to come off the pitch with no regret, knowing that you gave everything to get a good result.
“For sure, we have to give a better account of ourselves than we did that day.
“Ultimately, you have to perform and match everything St Mirren will bring and we have to give more if we want to be the team that are in the Final.”
McGregor, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “Obviously, the league goes for a break this weekend, but I think it’s good to stay in rhythm as much as you can.
CONFUSION…Callum McGregor discusses where things are going wrong during a break in play in the League Cup Final defeat to St Mirren in December. Kelechi Iheanacho, Kieran Tierney, Liam Scales and Auston Trusty have their say.
“For us, the semi-final is the price of trying to be a successful team. It’s playing in all the competitions. There is never a rest period.
“It’s important for the team, another chance to improve the way we are playing. Tactically, technically, the understanding of the game, what we are trying to bring against a team we have just played.”
The Hoops’ onfield leader added: “We know what St Mirren will bring to the game. We have seen it now, worked on it in training and will try to nullify that.
“As always, when you come to semi-finals, you have to turn up on the day and perform. You have to do the hard yards, earn the right to play and go through.
“As always with semi-finals, the objective is to get to the Final.”
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