DAILY RECORD 🔵 Callum McGregor’s Celtic programme notes scrubs Wilfried Nancy from history as skipper airs true feelings after debacle

McGregor has stayed away from media duties over the last month but opened up as the champions hammered Dundee Utd

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Callum McGregor has often been the face of Celtic through turbulent periods in the club’s season.

The Hoops skipper is the first to front up to the cameras after a bruising defeat and rally the troops together. But the 32-year-old hasn’t been put front in front of the media since Wilfried Nancy’s disastrous Parkhead tenure spiralled out of control.

From winning Quadruple Trebles to seeing 10-in-a-row going up in smoke in the Covid season, McGregor has been through it all. You could argue nobody cares more about the club than the legendary captain, who has dedicated his entire career to Celtic.

And after another bombshell week which led to Nancy’s dismissal and Martin O’Neill’s return for a third Parkhead spell, McGregor aired his true feelings in his programme notes.

And, curiously, there was no mention of axed boss Nancy as the serial-winning leaders vowed to right the wrongs of a chaotic 33 days under the Frenchman.

Writing in his weekly column ahead of yesterday’s 4-0 win over Dundee United, McGregor wrote: « It’s an obvious thing to say that we are all determined to get back to winning ways, and certainly after a couple of very disappointing results, that’s what we’re focused on doing this afternoon.

« It has been another eventful week in what has been an unprecedented season so far for the club, but since we’ve reported back to training on Tuesday, all of the players have been working hard in order to be ready for the 90 minutes ahead.

« We all know what is expected at Celtic, and that is to win football matches, and the fact we haven’t won enough of them over the past month or so is a major disappointment which has been felt by all of the players as much as our supporters.

« Our aim is to rectify that, starting this afternoon against a Dundee United side who we know from previous experience this season will be tough opponents.

« The manager has returned, along with the rest of his coaching staff, and we’ve enjoyed a good week’s training in preparation for today’s match. That will hopefully stand us in good stead, not only for the 90 minutes ahead, but for every challenge we face in the remaining weeks and months of this season.

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« As I said, the recent run of results has been felt by players and supporter alike, and as we look to do everything we can on the pitch to turn things around, we also need your backing from the stands, particularly with so much still to play for this season.

« One of Celtic’s great strengths over the years has been the backing we get from our supporters, and that will certainly be the case this afternoon as we target three points, and it will continue to be the case in every game between now and the end of the campaign. »

Veteran boss O’Neill did directly address Nancy’s exit as he wished his predecessor all the best for his future endeavours.

He wrote: « I am very pleased and privileged to be back at the football club and I’m looking forward to working with the players again over the next few months.

« Obviously, everyone hoped things would have worked out differently under Wilfried, and we all wish him good luck with everything he does in the game.

« Talking about ‘luck’, it’s something we all need at important moments in our lives. There is little doubt that Wilfried and his staff will bounce back from this temporary setback. »

While McGregor – linked with a life-changing move to Saudi Arabia with Brendan Rodgers – has shied away from media duties, he did speak to the club’s TV channel immediately after Celts dismantled United 4-0 on Saturday.

The midfielder was back to his brilliant best and was upbeat in his post-match interview as he said: “That’s exactly what we wanted. You know, that’s a Celtic team in terms of the way they play. Pressing, intensity, quick football, aggressive, scoring goals, clean sheets.

“So, a really good afternoon and now we recover, go again, and keep doing it. I think that’s it. We just sort of picked up where we left off. You know, the six weeks they were in were incredible. The team had a real bounce, playing with confidence and playing with clarity.

“And then it looked like we just picked up where we left off. And Jan gets a great goal to start us off. The football was excellent. The counter-pressing was superb. The game was almost played in half a pitch. So that’s the kind of dominance that we want. And now, like I say, we’ve just got to repeat that between now and the end of the season.”