Celtic ace Callum McGregor describes upcoming semi-final as biggest game of the season

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Celtic have played some important fixtures in Europe this season, but none will be as important as this weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final according to Callum McGregor.

Callum McGregor has suggested that this weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers will be the club’s most important game of the season, surpassing the European knock out tie against Zenit St Petersburg and the League Cup final against Motherwell earlier on in the campaign.

Speaking to Celtic View, the midfield ace highlighted the game’s importance to the club, as Celtic look to become the first team in Scottish history to achieve back to back treble winning seasons.

Last year, at the same stage of the competition, McGregor opened the scoring against their cross city rivals after just 11 minutes, as the Hoops cruised to a 2-0 victory to reach the final.

This season will be an entirely different affair however, with Rangers a much more useful outfit compared to the last few years, with McGregor well aware of the threat that Graeme Murty’s men pose.

“This will be the biggest game of the season. Obviously we’ve had a lot of big games but with a semi-final you want to progress and get into the final,” the 24-year-old explained to Celtic View.

“It’ll be a good spectacle for the fans as well in terms of Rangers feeling that they need to come after us and try and to get a result.

“They scored a couple of goals last time and I think they’ll try and model that again in terms of attacking and trying to be aggressive in the game. It’s up to us to defend properly and counter-attack well.”

Having exposed Celtic at the back last time out at Ibrox, Rangers will no doubt be looking to pile the pressure on the Hoops defence ftom the off, with Brendan Rodgers’ centre-back pairings always looking likely to concede.

With Craig Gordon back fit, it remains to be seen who will start between the sticks, with Scott Bain having impressed lately as well. However, one thing is for sure, and that is that Celtic cannot afford a single lapse in concentration, with Rangers ready to come out all guns blazing, in a bid to put an end to the Bhoys’ quest for a fifth domestic treble in their history.