McGregor wants Celtic to win league 'in more style'

Celtic captain Callum McGregor insists he sees his future at the club and wants to win the league “in a bit more style” this term.

Under Martin O’Neill, Celtic chased down Hearts to win the Scottish Premiership on the final day last season before beating Dunfermline Athletic at Hampden to claim the Scottish Cup.

In the aftermath of that success, McGregor – who has been linked with a reunion with former boss Brendan Rodgers in Saudi Arabia – said he wanted to end his career with Celtic provided the club “continue to push and want to be successful”.

Midfielder McGregor will lead Celtic out for their season opener against Dundee on Monday (19:30 BST) – his 13th professional season with the club – with O’Neill now in permanent charge.

“This is the football club that has been part of my whole life. It’s where I want to be, it’s where I want to play football,” the 33-year-old told Sky Sports.

“I want to keep driving everything I possibly can to make sure this club is successful. The day that you do leave it, you want to leave it in a really good place.”

Although there was success come May, Celtic endured problems on and off the field last season.

O’Neill was brought out of retirement following the acrimonious departure of Rodgers and then was recalled for a second stint in interim charge after Wilfried Nancy’s short-term spell as manager.

The club’s supporters protested at length over a perceived lack of spending and the failure to reach the Champions League after defeat to Kazakh side Kairat Almaty.

That disgruntlement has carried over into this summer after chief executive Michael Nicholson said the transfer market was proving “difficult” because Celtic are competing with English Championship clubs for players and dealing with agents.

“There were obviously a few circumstances that made it more challenging than perhaps it has been in the past few seasons,” McGregor said when asked about last season.

“You have to make sure when you face those challenges, you can overcome them. The group of boys and the staff that pulled the team through a really difficult season – that’s what you need to build.

“Good characters, people that are willing to go to the death for each other.

“This season hopefully we can do it in a bit more style, the way that we’re used to.

“Work’s been going on through pre-season to make sure that happens.”

As McGregor hinted, it will be a new-look Celtic squad that takes to the field in the coming weeks and months.

Influential Japan forward Daizen Maeda has left to join Premier League Ipswich Town, while striker Kelechi Iheanacho turned down a new contract at Celtic and instead signed with Turkish outfit Bursaspor.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has retired, while loanees Marcelo Saracchi, Julian Araujo, Tomas Cvancara and Benjamin Arthur have all returned to their parent clubs.

However, Camilo Duran and club-record signing Kasper Hogh – both of whom have Champions League pedigree – have been brought in to bolster O’Neill’s forward line.

‘Champions League where we want to be’

As well as the league starting, Celtic play their Champions League play-off in August as they try to go one better than last season and reach the league phase.

Their opponents for that two-legged tie will be confirmed when the draw takes place on Monday, but McGregor thinks Celtic are well placed to compete both domestically and in Europe.

“All the teams will strengthen over the summer, we’re the same – a couple of good signings in the door, hopefully some more bodies in as well,” McGregor said.

“We’ve signed two strikers, two really good players. It’s good signs, positive steps and that is to add to what is a really good group already. We have the makings of a really good team.

“The standard for us is trying to get to Champions League football – that’s where we want to be, it takes the club to a different level.”