Former Hearts manager Steven Naismith has highlighted the intelligence and positional awareness of Callum McGregor as the key component missing in Celtic’s derby defeat to Rangers – and how it proved decisive in the win over Hearts.
Speaking on BBC Sportscene alongside Stuart Kettlewell, Naismith pointed to McGregor’s influence on Celtic’s midfield structure, particularly in the context of his return from injury against Hearts.
“The best midfielder in Scotland for the last five or six years has been Callum McGregor,” Naismith said. “People see him as a 6 who sits and dictates the game, but his intelligence – that’s what was lacking in the Glasgow Derby.”
McGregor missed the 3-2 defeat to Rangers before the international break, and Celtic’s midfield clearly felt his absence. Naismith explained that McGregor’s ability to influence games comes from more than just passing and positioning.
“He takes himself into positions that causes [Lawrence] Shankland problems,” Naismith added, referencing the Hearts forward. “And it develops from there – and that’s how it played out against Hearts.”
McGregor was instrumental in Celtic’s 3-0 win at Parkhead, controlling the tempo and setting the platform for the likes of Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn to flourish. His return brought structure, calmness, and precision that had been noticeably absent in the derby.
It was a subtle but stark reminder of just how vital McGregor is to Brendan Rodgers’ side — and why his absence can significantly alter the dynamic of big matches.
A lot went wrong for Celtic on derby day, but had their captain and leader been on the pitch, it could’ve been a different story.
