Callum McGregor did not hold back after Celtic’s 1-0 win over St Johnstone, with the Hoops captain using his post-match reaction to defend his teammates and hit back at the criticism that had surrounded the club before and during the game.
It was not Celtic’s easiest night of the season. St Johnstone made them work for almost everything, and for long spells the visitors struggled to find the sort of rhythm Celtic supporters have come to expect. In the end, though, one goal was enough to take all three points back to Glasgow.
The result means Celtic have now won their opening six league matches, but it was the conversation after the final whistle that really caught attention.
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd had been involved in the discussion around Celtic during the Sky Sports coverage, including the debate over Haissem Hassan’s disallowed goal. Hassan thought he had put Celtic further ahead, but the effort was ruled out after the officials decided the ball had gone out of play.
That was just one of the talking points on a night when Celtic were again under the microscope. McGregor, however, was clearly not interested in allowing the outside criticism to become a distraction.
The Celtic captain’s response was aimed at those judging the team from outside the club.
“We know what happens inside this dressing room, and we know what it takes to play for Celtic. People outside can talk all they want, but they don’t see the work, the pressure or the commitment that goes into every game. We listen, but we don’t let outside noise decide who we are.”
McGregor’s point was simple. The players know when they have played badly, and they do not need somebody sitting outside the dressing room to tell them that.
He then made it clear that he would rather Celtic’s players be judged by what they actually do on the pitch.
“If you want to judge us, judge us on the pitch. We might not play perfectly every week, but we fight, we stay together and we find a way to win. That’s what matters to me and to the players. Nobody outside this club knows more about this dressing room than the people inside it.”
It was a strong defence of a Celtic side that had just come through another awkward away fixture.
St Johnstone certainly did not make things comfortable. The hosts had chances and Celtic goalkeeper Sam Johnstone was called upon to make an important save from Joel Cotterill during the first half.
For a side chasing another league title, these are the games where patience matters.
Celtic eventually got their reward seven minutes after half-time.
Mika Baur scored his first goal for the club in the 52nd minute, finishing from close range after Hassan created the opening. It was the moment Celtic had been waiting for, and suddenly the visitors had something to protect.
They nearly added another later on when Hassan found the net, only for the goal to be ruled out.
That decision caused plenty of discussion, particularly among the Sky Sports pundits, and it helped keep the focus on Celtic even after the match had finished.
But the players were not interested in making excuses.
They had the lead, and the job was to keep it.
St Johnstone continued to push, while Celtic had to defend deeper than they would have liked at times. There were nervous moments, but the visitors survived them.
McGregor’s final message after the match was just as direct as his earlier comments.
“So people can keep talking. They can analyse every mistake and question every decision. That’s football. We’ll keep doing our job, keep improving and keep fighting for Celtic. Tonight we got the three points — that’s the answer.”
That final line summed up the mood around the Celtic camp.
There is no doubt the performance will be analysed. Celtic were not at their fluent best and will know there are areas that need improving. But six games into the league campaign, the most important number remains six — six wins.
For McGregor, that is what matters.
The midfielder has been around Celtic long enough to understand how quickly a poor performance can become a crisis in the media. One mistake can dominate the headlines, while a narrow victory can sometimes be treated as if it was a disappointment.
That is why his comments after the St Johnstone game carried weight.
He was not claiming Celtic had been perfect. Instead, he was defending the players’ effort and the togetherness of the group.
And there is plenty for Celtic to be positive about.
They are winning games, Baur has opened his Celtic account and the team continues to build momentum under O’Neill.
The pressure, though, will not disappear.
Every Celtic performance will be analysed, and former players and pundits will continue to give their opinions. McGregor knows that better than most.
His response was essentially that the players will listen, but they will not allow the noise to take over.
For now, Celtic have done what was required.
They went to St Johnstone, found a way to win and left with another three points.
The debate over the performance, the disallowed goal and the comments from the pundits will continue.
McGregor, however, appears to have made his position clear. Celtic will do their talking on the pitch.
