Everything that Celtic captain Callum McGregor said to the media ahead of Saturday evening's Scottish League Cup semi-final at Hampden Park

How are you feeling?

All good. I am ready to go. It has been a quieter week this week but I am feeling good and ready to go.

How frustrating has it been for you to miss out on a couple of games?

It is not a feeling I am used to. You are kicking every ball on the sidelines and you are desperate to get back out there. I am feeling good.

Do you take a positive in that it lets you watch the play and see what is happening on the pitch?

I'd much rather be in the middle of it all and involved. Any footballer would tell you the same thing. It is the worst thing when you have to watch games. The lads did great. They came out with maximum points. It is a change of competition tomorrow but it will require our full focus as well.

Is this the kind of game that doesn't need much of a team talk?

Yes, it's a big semi-final, Aberdeen are going well, and we are going well, it should be a good game to watch and a good game to play in. We just have to bring our maximum level to make sure that we are in the final.

Was the game at Celtic Park a warning of what Aberdeen can do if you are not on it?

We knew they had a great start to the season they were coming to Celtic Park and we would try and dominate the game and try and get a positive result. On the day they showed their quality and their resilience and that clinical edge that has given them such a good start. We are under no illusions, tomorrow will be a tough game and we will have to bring our level and match their intensity and if they want to work hard then we have to work equally as hard. The prize is the same for both teams and we will both be desperate to get there.

Is there extra impetus on this cup this season because it is the one domestic trophy you didn't get last season?

Yeah, maybe a little bit from that last season. I think we always speak about trying to win the first trophy of the season and that sets you up and solidifies all the good work that you have done. This is the next game and we want to win it and get ourselves into the final. We can talk about that when it comes. First and foremost our full focus is on the game tomorrow and our objective is to get to the final.

Do you think the nature of the competition with the final being so early helps set the tone for a successful season?

Yes. Anyone in the league when they see that the first competition is up for grabs wants it. We have arrived in the space that it is a big semi-final tomorrow and we have to do our maximum to get to the final. Hopefully, if we get there all these things become relevant. Until that point, we have to bring a performance and get through and we will deal with that if we win.

Has Aberdeen and that score draw been the toughest challenge you have had this season?

No, I think all the challenges are tough. When teams come to play Celtic there are different game models. Teams try and do different things to stop you from playing. Aberdeen did similar. They came to Celtic Park, they knew what they were about and they provided a really tough challenge on the day. On another day with the chances that we created in the last 20 minutes, we win the game as well. I think, especially when you are at Celtic there are so many different challenges that you face throughout the year and tomorrow will be another big challenge for us.

Do you still get that special feeling walking out at the national stadium?

Yes, 100 per cent, especially when it is big games - semi-finals and finals - that's where you want to be as a football player. The feeling never changes, it never diminishes. Every competition that is up for grabs I want to win. When you get to these days you have to maximise the opportunity of being there and complete your objective which for us is to be in the final.

When you look back at the Aberdeen game do you focus on that 15-20 minute period when they got on top and got the goals back? Is that the key to making sure that you can come out on top this time?

I just think our whole performance we have to be on it from start to finish. When there is a lull in the game, the momentum of the game changes, and that's the moment that Aberdeen capitalised on in the last game. It is about us trying not to create that momentum shift in the game and we want to start the game well and be aggressive and be the aggressor in the game. You have to be concentrated and together for the whole 90 minutes or else, the momentum of the game can change. You all saw what happened at that point.

What was the key aspect from Aberdeen that you feel you will have to guard against?

It was their whole game. It was really impressive. They are together when they defend. There are not many spaces there and they carry a threat on transition as well. They have got speed in the team and good physicality. I have been really impressed by them and tomorrow will be another tough game for sure.

A few years ago you had a rivalry with Aberdeen. Are you enjoying the new rivalry with them as they are joint top of the table alongside yourselves? Does it add an extra edge to it?

We need as many teams as we can get doing well in Scotland. Ultimately it gives us a better product and people a better product to watch. It is more competition for the team. We want everybody to be strong and fighting against each other and hopefully, we can come out on top. Aberdeen will have the same intention as well as they will want to win the game. We want to win, so it will be a good game.

Given how well Celtic have done so far, does it surprise that Aberdeen have managed to keep pace?

No, I don't think so. I think when you watch them, they are really well organised, and they have a really good idea of what they are trying to do. What the wins do is help them gather belief. As soon as that happens and you gain momentum in football, we speak about it all the time, it can be such a big thing. They have done a lot of good work over the summer and they have carried that into the games. People speak about that snowball effect and they are where they are and they deserve to be there. We have to treat everyone with the utmost respect and bring our level to the game to try and make us successful as well.