Captain Callum McGregor believes that Celtic possess a decisive edge in the ongoing Scottish Premiership title battle and has firmly dismissed any speculation about his own exit from the club. The Glasgow side currently sit third in the league standings, three points behind leaders Heart of Midlothian and two points adrift of Old Firm rivals Rangers, positioning them within striking distance of the crown.
Celtic, who have amassed an impressive 13 titles out of the last 14 seasons, are set to begin their post‑split schedule on Saturday with a home fixture against Falkirk, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Speaking to the media, McGregor said, "I don't think I'd be doing my job properly if I didn't believe we have the edge." He went on to explain that his confidence stems from daily observations of the squad's training sessions and the resilience they have already demonstrated this campaign. "I see the Celtic team every day, I see how we train, I see what we've overcome already this season in terms of a little bit of adversity, changing manager twice, fought back from where we were, we were in a cup final, we're in another cup final," McGregor recounted.
"So I see enough signs that the team want to win, they can do enough to win." He highlighted the group’s habit of delivering under pressure, noting that the next five games will be crucial. "Generally when the team have been under pressure they've managed to produce big results, so hopefully we can do that over the next five games," he added. The captain also pointed to Celtic’s knack for scoring late goals as evidence of a winning mentality.
"We've scored a lot of late goals, so that tells you the mentality is there to keep going and keep going," McGregor said. He emphasized that he has never once felt the squad was "gone" or lacking belief, observing that every player still thinks they can achieve success.
"I never went into training one day and thought that we were gone. I never ever looked inside the dressing room and seen the players and seen the way that they were and the one thing that struck me was everyone still thinks we can do this and that has been such an important thing," he explained. McGregor praised the resilience and character of the group, stating that these qualities are evident in abundance. "I don't think anyone can point the finger at the resilience of the group or the character of the group.
I think that's been there in abundance," he asserted. The captain’s loyalty to Celtic has been questioned in recent weeks, particularly after rumors linked him with a move to Saudi club Al Qadsiah, where former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers now works. McGregor, who is 32 and has collected 24 major trophies during his tenure at Parkhead, dismissed the speculation and reaffirmed his commitment to the club. "I've always said I want to be at this club.
I've come through since I was eight years old. It's in my DNA. It's something I carry with me every single day. I want to be here," McGregor said emphatically.
He added that his primary focus remains on adding more silverware to Celtic's cabinet. "I just want to make sure that the club continues to push and want to be successful and want to drive.
And obviously having conversations with the guys upstairs, that is something they want to do. So for me, then this is the place I want to play," he continued. When asked whether he envisions ending his playing days at Celtic, McGregor answered affirmatively. "Yeah.
It's obviously twofold, where if the club think I've got something to offer, and then obviously the club, like I said there, they want to keep pushing, they want to keep being successful. The one thing you do get when you're at this club is when you have a taste of success, you want to keep it.
And you want it every single year and you want to keep pushing and trying to play at the highest level you can," he explained. McGregor's remarks come at a pivotal moment for Celtic, who are juggling a demanding league schedule alongside cup commitments. The team recently reached a domestic cup final and will contest another shortly, underscoring the depth of their fixture list.
Despite managerial changes earlier in the season, the squad appears to have settled under the current coach, displaying a renewed sense of purpose. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely as Celtic aim to close the gap on Hearts and Rangers in the remaining fixtures.
The captain’s confidence and his clear rejection of transfer rumors may provide a morale boost for a side eager to add another title to their storied history. In summary, Callum McGregor remains steadfast in his belief that Celtic possess the necessary qualities—mental toughness, late‑game resolve, and a hunger for trophies—to seize the Scottish Premiership crown.
His commitment to the club, reinforced by his lifelong association with Celtic, suggests that any talk of a departure is unfounded, and that his focus will stay firmly on leading the Hoops to further success.