Captain: We'll benefit from all our hard work in pre-season

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Celtic F.C.

·14 juillet 2026

Captain: We'll benefit from all our hard work in pre-season

Callum McGregor is a veteran of pre-season camps, but he knows how important this stage is in terms of getting the team properly prepared for the season ahead.

The Celtic captain is the one setting the standards at the club for the rest of the squad, both on and off the park, and that includes every training session.

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And he’s been pleased with the work that’s been done so far, both at home and at the training camp in Portugal, which concludes today (Tuesday) with a friendly match against Sporting CP.

Speaking to CelticPlayer in Portugal, Callum McGregor said: “I’ve had quite a few pre-seasons now but it's always good to come away and concentrate and get the work in and get things moving.

“A lot of the time what carries us through is the standards and I always try to say that to the players – it’s what we hold ourselves accountable for.

“There are obviously a lot of variables in football but the one thing that we can do when we cross the white line as players is hold each other accountable to the highest standard that we possibly can and I believe if we do that enough times then generally that's what builds successful teams.

“The work rate and the application of the players has been first-class, even the young ones as well coming up, some really good ones in there, getting to the level of what's required. So, all in all it's been a positive training camp.”

After Tuesday night’s game against Sporting CP, the Hoops will face back-to-back home fixtures against Middlesbrough and AC Milan before the Premiership campaign kicks off at the start of next month with a home game against Dundee.

And the aim, as always, is to be as successful as possible across every competition the team take part in.

“I've pretty much said it in every pre-season trip I've been on that at some point in the season we will be tested, the character will be tested and the team will be tested in that sense,” he said.

“So it's how we react and deal with pressure and deal with setbacks. A lot of the work that you do in pre-season when you're tired, when the sessions are long, it's finding that mental strength to get through it, and that's what will carry us through difficult moments throughout the season.”

And talking about this evening's game against Sporting CP, the Celtic captain added: “It's playing against the best level opponents, Champions League opponents, and that's where we want to be.

“It’s a great test, but we have to go into the game believing the way that we did last year – a strong performance, and we won the game as well. So as early as we can, can we build that winning habit as well.”