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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
James McLaughlin

McGregor takes aim at Celtic doubters who fuelled double desire

Celtic captain Callum McGregor has said Celtic's success comes from the desire to prove doubters wrong as his team defeated Ragners to pick up a domestic league and cup double at Hampden.

Adam Idah's 89th minute strike after a mistake by Jack Butland was all that separated the teams after a fraught, bad-tempered encounter where neither side claimed the upper hand.

Celtic faced major criticism earlier in the season when they dropped behind their bitter rivals in the league after having a seven point lead earlier in the season.

But McGregor feels the doubters only fuelled his team as the powered towards the end of the campaign.

He told Premier Sports: "It was a great cup final and I thought both teams made it a good game. It was edgy, tight, everything you expect from a cup final.

"Our boys' mentality (is different)... We faced question after question after question and they are so tight. They want to prove people wrong, be together and win trophies and that's how you do it.

"You have to stick together when people write you off and they do so with this group at their peril. We were probably big favourites today in terms of the form table but we knew it was never going to be easy.

"You have to stick in, grind it out and find a moment of quality. You have to put your body on the line and that's what we did."

Asked about his personal contribution, McGregor chalked up his ongoing success to hard work. He has now lifted 22 trophies for the club, equalling the record of his old teammate Scott Brown.

"I just try and work my hardest every single day," he said. "I'm so privileged to be at a club like this that demands winning. It's inside my DNA and every time I go on to the pitch I want to make the supporters happy, I want to make my teammates happy and make myself happy as well."

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