Callum McGregor Calls for Unity Ahead of ‘Massive Week’ for Celtic

Celtic captain Callum McGregor has called on his teammates to show their character and unity after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Dundee, describing the coming week as “massive” for the club.

The skipper, speaking after the loss, admitted the team have become “too easy to play against” and urged them to rediscover the fight and togetherness that has defined their success in recent years.

The defeat at Dens Park has left Celtic’s form and mentality under scrutiny, with back-to-back poor performances raising concerns ahead of a crucial run of fixtures. McGregor said the squad must now rally together, reminding everyone that success at Celtic doesn’t come from reputation alone but from hard work and collective spirit.

His words come at a pivotal moment, with Celtic facing two vital matches in the space of a few days. The champions need results to restore belief among supporters and regain ground at the top of the Premiership table. McGregor’s message was clear, this is the time for leadership and resilience.

The captain emphasised that setbacks can serve as a catalyst for improvement, challenging his teammates to show their true standards in the games ahead.

He said: (RecordSport), “It has to be, it has been in the past.

“Any wee days like this that we’ve had have usually helped galvanise the group and make everybody fight a little bit more to show people.

“This is what it’s like playing at Celtic. Everyone thinks it’s great, you’re winning trophies… you only win trophies if you’re together and you’re ready to fight and you’re ready to run and minimise the amount of days like this, because at this moment in time, we’re too easy to play against.

“It’s a massive week. We need a result in both, we need to win both games.

“So that’s what it’s about being at Celtic, you have to respond to poor days and show why you’re a champion and show why you should be here. That is now the challenge to the players.”

McGregor’s comments underline the pressure within the squad to produce a response after a sluggish start to the season. His tone mixed honesty with defiance, acknowledging that standards have slipped while demanding a reaction on the pitch.

As captain, McGregor has often been the voice of reason in difficult spells, and his message reflects a growing determination to steady the team and silence doubts about their mentality. The next week could go a long way in defining Celtic’s campaign, not just in terms of results, but in how they handle adversity.

For McGregor, the focus is simple: rediscover the energy, unity, and intensity that made Celtic champions. The response at Tynecastle and in Europe will reveal whether this group still has the fight he’s demanding.