Why McGregor is 'glue' that binds Rodgers' Celtic

Nearly two years ago, when Brendan Rodgers was mulling over a return to the role of Celtic manager, he caught up with captain Callum McGregor.

During Rodgers first spell at the helm, the midfielder was learning from the armband-wearing Scott Brown while continually nudging his level up a notch.

All the ingredients were there when Rodgers left, but when he returned, the McGregor masterpiece was fully made and the pair, who previously enjoyed so much success together, vowed to make more.

With three trophies in the cabinet since the Northern Irishman came back, another Premiership title edging ever closer, and a Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen to come, the indomitable duo of Rodgers and McGregor are sticking to their word.

"We were talking about trying to win as many trophies as we can, be as dominant as we can, keep pushing the club," McGregor said of that chat with Rodgers after opening the scoring in Sunday's thumping cup semi-final win over St Johnstone.

"He's a manager that'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.

"The best way to do that is by winning trophies."

McGregor craves more 'addictive' success

With 23 trophies in 11 years, former Scotland international McGregor knows a thing or two about doing just that. He's a serial winner.

Level on accolades with Lisbon Lions captain Billy McNeill, only Bobby Lennox and current team-mate James Forrest are ahead of him on the roll of honour.

Should Celtic seal the Premiership title - they can do so on Saturday against Dundee United - Forrest will move ahead, on his own, as the most decorated Celt.

Rather than focus on his own player of the match performance, he was keen to heap praise on his long-time pal who has "dedicated his life" to the club.

McGregor, 31, is at the stage where reaching, and winning, finals is "normal".

The Celtic captain will now prepare for a 15th domestic cup final. He's never lost any of the previous 14. It's a winning feeling that he craves.

"If you ask any football player, success is addictive," he added. "It becomes a habit. You just keep wanting more and that's what we're trying to instil in the team.

"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 unique glue to the team'

No matter Celtic's dominance in the last decade-plus, it's still frankly outrageous that winning has become so commonplace.

But such has been the way of it under Rodgers. The Northern Irishman is on the cusp of his own slice of history, as the first Celtic manager to oversee three trebles.

His first was secured in the most dramatic of fashions against Aberdeen in 2017, with Tom Rogic's extra-time goal clinching the Scottish Cup.

Since then, what used to be a rare achievement has become a yearly target for Celtic, Rodgers and "the glue" to it all, McGregor.

Even from afar, the understanding the pair have is evident. The manager fleetingly singles players out, but he's never shy to do so with his captain.

"He is such a unique player, the tempo setter for the team," Rodgers told BBC Scotland after the St Johnstone game. "He's tactically so good, he really is a coach on the pitch.

"He sees all the pictures we want and he knows when to release himself to shoot or create goals. A wonderful player who is the glue for this team."

When McGregor is missing - rare as that is - it's undeniably noticeable. See the defeat by Rangers last month for a recent example.

But with him, Celtic are a different animal.