Ahead of Celtic’s Champions League opener against Slovan Bratislava, UEFA spoke with Callum McGregor to start building anticipation for the match.
While the Celtic captain has had a great career at Celtic Park, it wasn’t always easy sailing for McGregor in Paradise. He is about to go on another group-stage adventure against Europe’s top clubs.
The 31-year-old midfielder has competed for Celtic on both the national and European scenes with experience, but McGregor thought that his career at Parkhead had a “turning point” while he was at Celtic.
McGregor’s Champions League debut with the first squad
Although the Celtic captain has made 17 appearances in the Champions League group stage, McGregor believes that his Champions League debut in a qualifier marked a significant turning point in his Celtic career.
During the Celtic TV preview of UEFA’s Champions League, McGregor stated, “It was probably the biggest turning point you could have ever imagined in the game against Rekjavik.” In the early stages of the Champions League, you made your first team debut.
“You want to leave a lasting impression and be remembered because many people come through with five or six games, but sometimes their plans don’t work out as they had hoped.
“It was a wonderful family moment as well, and my parents stayed up until four in the morning to welcome me back when I first got back from the game.”
In 2014, McGregor netted the game’s lone goal as Celtic defeated the Icelanders 1-0 on the road. He then helped his team win 4-0 at Parkhead.
The former Scotland international scored in each of the subsequent away qualifiers against NK Maribor and Legia Warsaw, but sadly, Celtic faltered against the Slovenians following the reverse of a 1-1 away draw at Celtic Park as Maribor triumphed 1-0 to advance to the group stages.
McGregor’s voyage starting at Celtic’s Academy
With the exception of a 2013 loan to Notts County, McGregor has played most of his career with Celtic.
But the Celtic captain’s ambition of wearing the green and white Hoops at Celtic Park in the Champions League was realized in the academy.
“It’s brilliant to come from a boy who was in the academy to go on and captain the club and experience those nights I was talking about as a ball boy and now on the other side of that with a lot of responsibility,” McGregor said.
“It’s what I’ve desired ever since I wanted to pick up football.”
Callum McGregor has participated in the competition’s group stages in the seasons 2016–17, 17–18, 22–23, and 23–24. As the team captain, he will be hoping that this season will mark the first time he leads Celtic out of the groups.
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