Celtic skipper Callum McGregor has opened up about a conversation he had with Brendan Rodgers just before the Irishman agreed to return as manager in 2023.

Rodgers spoke to McGregor about where the club was at, having left four and a half years earlier. With two managers having been in charge since full-time, it wasn’t the same Celtic, and Rodgers was keen to get McGregor’s inside knowledge as captain.

That conversation will likely go down in Celtic history, as it marked a moment that has led to unbelievable success—starting with a double last season and now the chance to win a treble. McGregor highlighted post-match yesterday that the conversation was still on his mind after the final whistle against St Johnstone.

He said: (TCW), “We had a chat before he came back, and that’s what we were talking about: trying to win as many trophies as we can, be as dominant as we can, keep pushing the club.

“We had already had that conversation before he came back in, and absolutely, he’s a manager who’s done so much for my career and put so much trust and faith in me. So, every time I go on the pitch, I try and repay that for him, and the best way to do that is by winning trophies.

“It’s addictive, you know, if you ask any football player, success is addictive, it becomes a habit, and you just keep wanting more and more and more.

“That’s what we’re trying to instil in the team, that when we get to these moments, they become normal, you have to win, you have to play well. So, as much as we can normalise that and keep being successful, then hopefully that will keep the group in a good place.”

The professional respect between McGregor and Rodgers can’t be understated. McGregor has proven to be an excellent captain, following in the footsteps of Scott Brown, just as Rodgers has once again shown himself to be a wonderful manager.

In many ways, the two mirror each other—their professionalism, their will to win, and the high standards they demand every single day.

McGregor often steps up when it matters most, and it’s interesting to hear that he still thinks about the message from Rodgers regarding continuing the domestic dominance in his second spell at the club.

McGregor and Rodgers will look to make history in the remaining weeks of the season with the chance to win a domestic treble. It has been a season to remember, and although the last couple of months haven’t been perfect by any means, Celtic look to be back to their very best at the right time of the season.