Many Celtic players are on social media. Using profiles on Instagram or X, formerly Twitter, you can regularly find them posting after matches or around big career moments.
However, one man who has never indulged in that distraction is Bhoys captain Callum McGregor.
The midfielder is a private individual who doesn’t give much away other than what you see between the white lines of the pitch.
One of the most lauded and committed performers in Scottish football, he does all of his talking in matches and away from the gossip of social media.
That’s by design, McGregor says, so that all of his energy is put into what he can control rather than what is being said about him or others.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor cuts out the noise
McGregor explained when asked if he takes motivation from what rivals post on social media [Herald Sport, 25/05 print edition page 3]: “I’m not on social media, so I don’t see it. We can only focus on what we are doing, and I think the minute you take your eye off the ball, either personally or with what is happening inside the club, then you are too busy worrying about what is going on elsewhere.
“My job is hard enough as it is to deal with what is going on inside our building, and trying to prepare the players and myself and all of these different things.
“So, to be honest, the noise and anything that is published or on social media, that is the reason I’m not on it, because I don’t want to take on any more energy away from what I’m actually trying to do and achieve inside our own club.”
McGregor is a true Celtic leader
McGregor is a captain who leads by example. He doesn’t shout and bawl at his teammates to get them in line. So he couldn’t credibly ensure the squad’s discipline when it comes to messaging if he himself was always on Instagram posting grandiose statements or showboating.
We’ve seen that sort of nonsense from across the city in recent times with players such as Todd Cantwell drawing serious criticism for their updates.
It’s fantastic to have a performer like McGregor reinforcing what’s required at all times, on the pitch and off of it. Hopefully, we see the difference in that leadership again on Saturday at Hampden.
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