Callum McGregor: Players were outstanding in winning semi-final

In partnership with

Celtic F.C.

·2 November 2025

Callum McGregor: Players were outstanding in winning semi-final

As has so often been the case, Callum McGregor delivered another midfield masterclass to help guide Celtic into the League Cup final.

The Celtic captain was superb throughout the game, and capped a fine performance with a stunning strike early in extra-time to put the Hoops 2-1 ahead.

Video OneFootball

And speaking to Celtic TV after the game, the skipper was pleased with the team’s showing in the derby, delivering a 3-1 win over Rangers and a place in the final next month against St Mirren.

“I’m super proud of the group,” he said. “It’s been a busy week with a lot of change, a wee bit of anxiety in the building etc..., which is normal, so to win on Wednesday night was superb.

“We asked the players to go again and back it up in what is a massive game in the context of the season – if you win this, you can fly.

“These was so much demand on the players, so much pressure, and they handled it so, so well. I thought the first-half we were unbelievable, the intensity that we played with and we really got control of the game.

“Then, when it went 10 v 11, we made it a little bit more difficult that what we probably had to, but the good news is that the players solved the puzzle in the game.

"And once we got the second goal, that just calmed everything down again and we really started to look like the team in control.

“And then the third one, which is what we deserved. So it’s a fabulous result and it takes us into another cup final, which is where we want to be, but now we have to go again.

"We’ve got to rest and recover because we’ve got another big game on Thursday and then a big game on Sunday before we break up.”

After the game finished all-square at the end of 90 minutes, Celtic took the early in extra-time, and it was a stunning Callum McGregor shot from the edge of the area which put the Hoops ahead.

And another Callum – Callum Osmand – made sure of the victory with a goal early in the second period of extra-time.

The Celtic captain was delighted with his goal but, more importantly, with the performance of his team-mates after what has been a tough week at the club.

“This team has so many winners in it, serial winners, young guys with so much talent,” he said, “and I actually think that everything that’s went on has helped galvanise the players and they want to show they’ve got a bit about them.“

'And in this fixture to show it the way we did in the first-half was outstanding, so a big thanks to the players from me because I know it’s not easy.'

“I knew I had a good chance (of his shot going in). First and foremost you just try and get it out of your feet and get your strike away as early as you can, and I saw it wobble and saw the goalkeeper underneath it a little bit, and I just saw it flying into the roof of the net. So, if you don’t shoot, you don’t score.

“That win is one for the supporters because it’s been a tough time and a result like this in a game like this can really catapult the club back to where we want to be, and now it’s on us to continue that and keep working every three days.

“There’s so much football to be played until that point, but your job as a Celtic player, is to be in finals and win things, so we managed to get over that hurdle today.

“We arrive into the final and we’ll enjoy it when it comes, but there’s so much football to be played and now it’s a case of, can we put a run together and keep climbing the table.”