The sting of Celtic losing to Rangers is still being felt by fans this morning.
Just when it looked like Brendan Rodgers‘ side were about to go on and win the game after battling back from 2-0 down, a late strike by the Ibrox club consigned the Celtic manager to his second Glasgow Derby defeat in a row.
Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate must have thought they had at least rescued a point with their goals, but Humza Igamane’s 87th-minute strike sealed all three points as Rangers left Celtic Park with all three points.
But it was just Celtic’s starting XI that BBC man Pat Nevin says left fans shellshocked as he shares how they reacted to the news that Callum McGregor was missing and how one asked him a question about the Celtic captain.
Pat Nevin says Celtic fans couldn’t believe Callum McGregor was not available vs Rangers
Nevin told The Scottish Football Podcast, [17m], “Celtic are, I don’t want to use the word reliant, but they are so different when they’ve not got Callum McGregor in that team.
“They’re not awful, but they’re so different and they’re nowhere near as good a team on the show today. There was a wee moment before, I have to tell you, just two minutes into the second half, the guy from three rows in front of me turned around and he goes, ‘Is McGregor not even on the bench?’
“And you could tell that every fan around here felt exactly the same way way. And as much applause as I want to give to Rangers, to their effort, to Barry Ferguson, to his team, it was a technically very, very good match.
“You always have a good match if the guy you bring on as a sub goes and wins the game for you. It’s a big, big thing they’ve not had Callum McGregor there.
Callum McGregor’s record vs Rangers proves Celtic importance
Callum McGregor has had the measure of Rangers ever since he made his breakthrough into the Celtic first-team squad.
The Celtic captain has enjoyed cup final wins and wins at Ibrox as the heartbeat of the Hoops midfield.
So here is McGregor’s record, which shows just how important he is for Celtic vs Rangers.
With the next Glasgow Derby at Ibrox, Rodgers will need to ensure his Celtic players end the season on a high with a win against Rangers in their own backyard.
