CALLUM McGregor has revealed that going back to basics helped Celtic put their disappointing run of form behind them and beat Rangers at Ibrox today – and confessed they had been guilty of ‘information overload’ in recent weeks.
Parkhead captain McGregor was immense in the middle of the park against Michael Beale’s side and inspired the injury-ravaged Scottish champions to 1-0 win that sent them back to the top of the cinch Premiership.
The Scotland midfielder and his manager Brendan Rodgers have been criticised by their own supporters in recent weeks after losing to Kilmarnock in the Viaplay Cup and drawing with St Johnstone in the Premiership.
But he confessed there had been a change in approach going into the derby.
“We probably simplified a bit this week,” he said. “We were maybe guilty of information overload at times and with a young group that can be difficult. We tried to strip it back and use the simplicity of the model and layer it up from there.
“We stuck to our principles and we came out of the traps flying. We played some good football and settled ourselves into the game. If you don't start well here then you can be in for a difficult afternoon, but I thought we handled the occasion really well.
“It was a massive win. There was a lot of noise and a lot of chat. It is always a difficult place to come. We silenced the crowd and started to get them frustrated. Everybody to a man ran themselves into the ground in terms of duels, tackles and blocks.
“It is a brilliant moment for us as a group. We are a relatively young group so to come here and win and to do it under the circumstances that we did the boys should feel very good about it. We now have to use it as a positive and fuel for what is to come.
“There is no point in winning today and then coming back after the international break and starting slowly and undoing all that good work. We also spoke about that in the changing room. Hopefully, it can be the springboard for us to kick on.”
McGregor confessed that not having any fans inside Ibrox to cheer them on had made Celtic even more determined to perform to their best and had made the result even more satisfying.
However, the 30-year-old, who is bidding to win a ninth Scottish title this term, knows that Celtic need to continue to perform at the same high level when they return to action after the international break.
“It’s probably like two different fixtures now with no away supporters in,” he said. “But, again, that can galvanise you. It’s a really difficult moment to come here. It’s almost like a siege mentality where it’s everyone in the stadium against you.
“That’s when you need your big players and personality to step up and I thought we did that. It probably makes it even sweeter. The reason why we play football is obviously to play in front of fans, but, if you can’t do it, the next best thing is to make them proud watching and hopefully we did that today.
“It’s a difficult place to come. We showed a big personality and good quality in the game. I think we showed a bit of everything. You show why you are champions. I always think when the going gets tough and the chips are down, there’s no better thing to come out and perform like that and make a statement.
“I think all that is the perfect recipe for coming here and putting on a display like that. In the difficult moments, you have to show your personality and you have to show up and our big players certainly did that today. The younger players followed that example and I am really proud of the group in terms of the way they performed."
McGregor continued: “We are happy with our day’s work. But we know there’s a long way to go. I’ve been over the course many, many times. I’ve won these ones and I’ve lost them. You win it, you enjoy today, then you draw a line under it. Then when you come back from the international break you’re good to go again.
“I think we have to use this. There’s no better place to come and win and to do it under the circumstances we have. But we have to use it as a springboard now. There’s no point in winning today and going back and starting to drop points again. It makes this pointless.
“We understand in there. Everybody feels good in there, but we are under no illusions that we have to kick on. You’ve got four weeks between every international break now. You have to go strong, have your break then go strong and finish the first half of the season very well. We know what’s at stake now and we have to get to work.”
Meanwhile, McGregor has lauded Kyogo Furuhashi after watching the Japanese striker score against Rangers for the sixth time in as many matches and ultimately secure all three points for Celtic.
“What a finish!” he said. “It was unbelievable. I said to him in there, ‘I think you are the best striker I’ve ever seen’. In the big moments, he is just ice cold. He showed his quality yet again and showed his importance to the club.
“I probably would have been (disappointed after missing two scoring chances in the first-half) but, again, in a big moment he makes up for it. He was excellent.”
