Callum McGregor casually dismissed recent comments made by Rangers’ Todd Cantwell, who suggested that his desire to win surpasses that of the Celtic captain. McGregor’s return to the pitch in Saturday’s derby match against Rangers serves as a testament to his determination to lead his club to victory in the cinch Premiership.

Facing a challenging injury setback in March, McGregor refused to let it sideline him for long, especially with Celtic’s title ambitions under pressure from Rangers and the upcoming Euro 2024 finals with Scotland on the horizon. Despite receiving a grim diagnosis for his Achilles problem, McGregor made a swift return, featuring in key matches and gradually rebuilding his fitness.

With the highly anticipated clash against Rangers approaching, McGregor is eager to demonstrate his resilience and progress since his injury layoff. Following a confrontation with Cantwell in their previous encounter, McGregor took a light-hearted stance on his rival’s competitive spirit, noting, “If that’s how he sees it, then so be it.”

Although McGregor avoided delving into specifics about Cantwell, he emphasized the emotional intensity of derby matches and the need to navigate various challenges to secure victory. “You have to bring your emotions to the game to motivate your team,” McGregor asserted. “Winning the derby requires a mix of grit, flair, and adaptability to overcome any obstacles that come your way.”