Celtic Faces Uphill Battle for Title as McGregor Calls for Crucial Wins
Callum McGregor, captain of Celtic, remains optimistic about his team's chances in the Scottish title race, emphasizing the need for at least five or six wins from their final seven matches. After suffering a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Dundee United on Sunday, Celtic finds themselves trailing by five points behind leaders Heart of Midlothian and two points behind city rivals Rangers. McGregor described the loss at Tannadice as possibly the worst performance during Martin O'Neill's two interim spells this season. Despite the setback, he maintains that the title race is still very much alive, stating, "No, I don't think so. You don't want to lose football games, but there's still so much football to be played." He acknowledged the competitiveness of the top five teams, indicating that there are still significant points available. When asked if winning all remaining matches might be necessary, McGregor replied, "We'll see if we need to win them all or not, but I think we have to go on a run." As Celtic gears up for their next match against Dundee on Sunday, April 5, he urged for calm amidst the frustration from supporters. "We know where we are and I think now's the time for calm heads," he said, acknowledging the emotional investment from players and fans alike. Reflecting on the current title race, McGregor noted that Celtic's struggles have contributed to a rare three-way competition for the title. He remarked, "I think we've probably manufactured it ourselves a wee bit, if I'm being honest." Looking ahead, he stressed the importance of returning from the international break ready to train hard and compete fiercely in the remaining fixtures.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-03-23