Callum McGregor outlines Celtic’s priorities heading into the new season.

Celtic are heading to the United States this week to continue their preparations for another exciting season at Parkhead.

The Bhoys are defending their Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup titles this season, and if the opportunity arises, they hope to complete a domestic treble.

Aside from that, the new Champions League format will give Celtic a new lease on life in Europe, with a guarantee of four home matches and four away matches, extending their time in the competition until at least after Christmas.

Crucially, Brendan Rodgers appears to be prepared for the challenges ahead. Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo could be announced soon; in the meantime, the Hoops have agreed on a £3.5 million fee to bring Paulo Bernardo back to Parkhead.

Back at base camp, Callum McGregor has been previewing his team’s ambitions as they look to get off to a strong start this season.

Callum McGregor on Celtic’s ambitions for this season.

McGregor told Celtic TV that, while the new Champions League format is a ‘exciting’ prospect, league duty will be the primary focus to ensure that the cycle of qualifying for Europe’s premier tournament continues.

He said “That will be exciting. Everybody always looks forward to the Champions League. The players, the staff and everyone else at the club are no different to that. It’s an exciting tournament, but first and foremost, the league is the priority.

“If you don’t win the league, you don’t get to the Champions League so that will be the main priority. Then as always, as a group of winners, we want to try and win everything that’s on offer for us. That will be no different. There’s no arrogance or anything in saying that. I’m sure every other team will be saying the same.

“It’s about us getting to work and understanding our responsibility at the club is to deliver trophies. This is where the hard work starts, and when our first competitive game comes around, we have to be ready.”

Celtic’s US tour will help them prepare for the new season.

Celtic prioritises readiness, which is why their pre-season tour of the United States will serve as critical preparation for the new season. DC United, Manchester City, and Chelsea await, promising high-profile clashes that will put the squad to the test.

Taking on the latter two, who are among the elite of world football, will give Rodgers a sense of how far his team needs to go to compete at the top table.

Furthermore, the match sharpness gained during the three games will go a long way towards getting everyone ready for the season. Undoubtedly, the return of first-team players has been delayed this summer due to international tournaments; however, most are now back, with the exception of Alistair Johnston.

Exciting times lie ahead, and it’s encouraging to hear McGregor set his sights on another league title while also hoping to help the Bhoys thrive in Europe.

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