Celtic's McGregor's Rangers 'talk is cheap' admission

What were your thoughts on the game?

Large spells of it were really good. We made changes in the second half. We probably bit loose with the ball more than what we should be. Again, at that point, it's two-nil. You then get three nil, and the game peters itself out a little bit. But there's some learning there for us, and that's the good thing, consistently putting the demand on each other and the players and the manager to be as good as we can be in every moment of the game. So it's good. When we look back, we'll see little bits where we can tidy up but again, coming here, it's always a tough venue. You bring in the weather conditions as well. It's a superb three points and that just takes us nicely to next week.

Celtic made another quick start against St Mirren. How important have they been this season? 

Yeah, exactly. That helps set the tone for us going into the game, obviously, teams will have an idea of trying to stop us and maybe try and prolong the game at 0-0 for as long as they can. If we can score early or impose our tempo early, then it means that teams need to change and try and do something different, which gives us more time and space. So it's a pillar of the game that we want to continue to be good in, and that just comes from the sort of hunger and intensity that we want to play with. The focus will now shift to next week's game against Rangers which is always important.

Do you feel when you're going into a game against Rangers to make sure the game before is not only a win but a good win, and a good performance?

Yeah, of course, momentum is everything in football, and when you're in a good moment, then you want to continue that for as long as possible. We knew it would be a tough game, so we looked at trying to maximize the game as much as we could. That's another clean sheet and three goals, it could have been more, and like I said, that sets us up well for next week. 

How was it playing alongside Paulo Bernardo again in midfield?

Paulo is a very intelligent football player and again, young, can develop, got loads to his game, can tackle, can defend and run, can pass the ball, he can do everything. I enjoyed playing with him last year at times when he was in the team. So of course, it looks like we're going to lose Matty (O'Riley), but again, another strong midfield performance from all three of us. I thought Reo was sensational. So yeah, we're still good in that area. Hopefully, we can add maybe one or two more as well before the end of the week, and that gives us a really, such strong midfield part of the team as well.

That is another goal for you, did it feel good to score again?

Just sometimes when you get a wee purple patch, things seem to fall for you. Again, it was a good strike on target and it went in. So yeah, nice. It just opens up, James drags people towards him, plays a nice pass, and again, the game opens up for you. So, yeah, but again, it's all about the team and the three points.

Does that lay down a marker for next week?

I think it's a big game. I think when you come to these games, especially at home, you have to try and maximize it as much as you can. And first and foremost, that means three points. And if you can match it with a strong performance, then of course, everybody, that would be the ideal world for everyone, but we know it's never as easy as that. Rangers are a good side, they obviously had a really good result at the weekend, so we know it will be a tough game. We have to give everything that we've got in the tank for the game, and hopefully, we can have a positive afternoon.

You've talked up Reo Hatate and Paulo Bernardo but what about your own form?

We've started the season well, and that is everybody when the team's playing well, everybody's connected and makes everyone's job easier. Yeah, I've chipped in a couple of goals, which is nice, but for me, the main objective is to make sure the team's performing and the game looks the way we want it to look. So when you have two brilliant midfield players in there with you, it makes your job easier as well.

Why do you think Celtic have put in better performances this season?

It just takes time and players are adapting to the system. It's a really high-level system that we're playing, just really intricate and the detail behind it and when to move, when to pass the ball, speed of pass, angle of pass. All these things are really, really important for what looks like small details. You get guys coming in, it takes them a while to get up to speed. Then that's probably where we were at maybe this point last season, where, yes, we were getting results, but maybe not as slick as where we have been but that's just credit to the coaches, the manager, the players, for taking on the information. It may seem like we're in a really good moment. So in football, you want to try and maximize that for as long as you can.

Does your role in Derby Week change at all?

Not really, to be honest, everyone knows how big the games are and when they come around, you probably don't need any added motivation for it. For us, we have a structure and a system and the way that we want to train first and foremost. We try and get the most amount out of the players as possible. And if that becomes a daily habit, then when you arrive at the big moments, it should be second nature for you. So again, you have to have a little bit of emotion and emotion is good in football a lot of the time it's, you know, here's the structure if we do this a lot of the time, then, you know, the probability is you'll have a good day. So it's as much about trying to keep the players calm. When we arrive at the game then, like I spoke about there, the emotion is important, because you need that, especially in these types of fixtures. For most of the week, it's just business as usual.

Does the emotion come nearer the game?

Yeah, it's hard, it's hard to take that away. I think as much as players and everyone in football tries to dampen it down. It's not it's a big game. So you have to enjoy that. You have to enjoy the responsibility and the experience. So yeah, of course, we need emotion.

Rangers have been doing a lot of fighting talk. Do you pin it to the wall?

No. It's just talk isn't it and talk is cheap.

Francis Turley made his debut for Celtic today. Did you give him any advice before the game or even during the game?

He's been training really well. Obviously, you never quite know when these moments are going to happen for the young ones, but he's trained ever so well. I think he impressed very early on in pre-season, we took him to America and again, he continued to grow with the group and the kind of more senior guys with internationals coming back, the boys really liked him, and he stayed around. So he's a hugely talented young player and you see when he comes on, he understands the game and brilliant moment for him and his family. I spoke to him after the game and just said congratulations, well played and hopefully, there are many more to come.  I'm sure it will if he continues to do the right things.

How do you feel about the transfer window?

I think probably the same as everyone else. You know, when you lose two or three bodies, especially quality ones, then you have to try and replace them with if not the same quality, then can we try and help the group as much as we can? So, yeah, I'm no different to anyone else. We want to see the club and the group moving forward and like I said, we've lost a few so it's important that we try and replace that.

Are you confident it will happen?

I think we have to trust the people in the positions to do the job. And that's the one thing that the club's been good at. We all trust each other. So from my end, there are no worries. Hopefully, when we get to the end of the week, then we'll be where we need to be.

How big a week in the context of the season is this - the last days of the transfer window, Champions League draw, and Rangers game?

Yeah, it's an exciting week, yeah, for sure. I think the bit for the players, especially, will be the game next week and a wee bit on the Champions draw as well, we'll see that come in. For sure, the full focus will be on the game, and then we as players just have to let everything else fall into place. As I said, we train as hard as we can this week, and what we can affect is the game next Sunday, so that's where our focus will be but yeah, it's an exciting week.