What Celtic had to say about penalty controversy and another final - 'both teams are going to be physical'

Callum McGregor is hoping to rack up a perfect ten in February when, fitness permitting, he leads Celtic out against Rangers before the Viaplay Cup final at Hampden.

Even if fitness does not permit, Ange Postecoglou might consider steering him out in a wheelbarrow in any case. McGregor is the ultimate lucky emblem having won each of the nine finals he has featured in at first-team level with Celtic to date. “Don’t jinx me,” he whispered following Saturday’s 2-0 win over Kilmarnock in the first of the weekend's semi finals.

The skipper was once again instrumental in helping his side team over the line in what was a tougher contest than many had expected. The conditions did not help. McGregor said the players noted the pitch was not likely to stand up well to the heavy rain fall that continued throughout the match, but the holders' game plan remained the same.

“Play the game the way we want to play and try not to turn it into a fight or a scrap because they have some big, physical boys and maybe that was the way they wanted the game to pan out,” said McGregor later. “It was important we tried to stick to our principles as much as we could. Obviously in the moments when you have to defend and be strong, then that is of course part of the game as well, but I thought it was important to try and continue to play the way that we play.”

Both Giorgos Giakoumakis and Joe Wright lie in a heap on the group in the controversial incident late in the game when Kilmarnock's penalty appeal was denied by referee Willie Collum. Giakoumakis made it 2-0 to Celtic v Kilmarnock shortly afterwards (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

That wasn’t always possible. McGregor noted the “steel” Celtic displayed at times as they withstood Kilmarnock pressure. There was also some fortune. The skipper was asked about the penalty that many felt Kilmarnock should have been awarded near the end when substitute Giorgos Giakoumakis barged into Joe Wright.

McGregor had already stressed in the run-up to the game that, in his opinion, Celtic were more sinned against this season in terms of VAR calls, and they needed a couple of “big ones” to go for them if there was any hope the decisions might even out before the end of the season.

In the case of this incident, VAR Greg Aitken did not consider it worth another look. “When the ball gets thrown in the box like that, I think both teams are going to be physical to try and gain an advantage,” said McGregor. “I don’t think there was anything in it.” Referee Willie Collum’s initial judgment and the decision of the VAR team not to ask him to review the incident was hugely significant. Celtic scored the decisive goal – through Giakoumakis inevitably – moments later. It went from potentially 1-1 to 2-0 to Celtic in a matter of seconds.

This was bad news for Killie but good news for Celtic. And, now it’s been confirmed who the holders meet in the final, it's good news for sponsors Viaplay, who have the broadcast rights. “Obviously it’s good to get there,” said McGregor. “That was the objective. But there is a lot of football to be played between now and then and when the final comes around the ambition is to win it, of course it is. We are tasked to bring success to this football club and that’s exactly what we will try to do come the final.”