McGregor Admits Celtic “Disharmony” Is Hurting Team Performance
Celtic captain Callum McGregor has conceded that growing unrest around the club is beginning to take its toll on performances.
The Scottish champions slipped to their first league defeat of the season with a loss away to Dundee on Sunday — their third match without a win — leaving them five points adrift of early Premiership leaders Hearts.
Their domestic struggles follow a disappointing European campaign, with Celtic crashing out of the Champions League to Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty and taking just one point from their opening two Europa League fixtures. All of this comes amid mounting supporter frustration over the board’s handling of the summer transfer window and wider concerns about the club’s direction, with fan protests even delaying kick-off at Dens Park at the weekend.
McGregor admitted that the ongoing discord is having an effect inside the dressing room.
“There’s a lot of disharmony, which makes things difficult for a club like this,” he said. “When everything’s going well, it can look easy from the outside — but it’s not. We win games because of the hard work that goes into it every single day.
“This club demands total commitment. You have to give everything to succeed, and when you fall slightly below that level — or when there’s unrest — it can be a really tough place to play football.”
The skipper stressed the importance of unity and hard work to turn the season around.
“It’s our job as players and staff to make the team as strong as possible and let our football do the talking,” McGregor continued. “When we do that, the outside noise tends to quieten down. We’ve been through periods like this before, and it usually brings the group closer together.
“People think playing for Celtic is all about winning trophies — and it is — but that only happens when everyone’s pulling in the same direction. Right now, we’re conceding too many goals and making it too easy for teams. That has to change.”
Celtic face a crucial week ahead, with a Europa League trip to Sturm Graz on Thursday followed by a top-of-the-table clash with Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday.
McGregor knows the players must respond.
“We’ve got to prove we can go and win those games,” he said. “Talking about it isn’t enough — we need to show it on the pitch. Celtic is a demanding club. Success only comes through hard work, togetherness and the will to fight for each other.
“We’ve got good players, and I’ve no doubt it’ll click, but now it’s time for everyone to step up.”
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