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At Celtic F.C., expectation is never a burden lightly carried, and this season has proved no exception. From Celtic Park to the stands, supporters have endured a campaign that has wavered between promise and frustration, with inconsistency on the pitch and distractions off it unsettling even the most steadfast followers.
At the centre of it all stands Callum McGregor, a player who has long embodied the club’s values and now shoulders the added responsibility of captaincy. His influence remains undeniable, yet recent performances have invited greater scrutiny, with questions emerging over whether his understated leadership is sufficient in testing moments.
Into that debate steps Frank McAvennie, whose remarks have sharpened the focus on McGregor’s role within the side. “Callum should be screaming at players around about him, because he is the captain,” McAvennie said. “But he doesn’t, it’s not in his nature.”
It is a critique that cuts to the heart of a long-standing discussion in football — whether leadership is best expressed through vocal authority or quiet example. McAvennie pointed towards Paul McStay as a reference point, a figure revered for his ability to influence games without theatrics, yet still seize decisive moments.
“Paul McStay was the same. But he led by example. He would just get the ball by the scruff of the neck, take it, and he would do something, which meant it would kick-start all of us,” McAvennie added.
McGregor, by contrast, operates with composure rather than confrontation, a style distinct from more vocal predecessors. Whether that approach can carry Celtic through a turbulent spell remains open to debate.
“You sense McAvennie’s comments on McGregor will divide fans,” his critique continues, “but it’s an interesting point he has raised, as Celtic reach boiling point during their season. Nobody says anything now. I don’t know if any of you guys have noticed it. It has gone out of the game.”
With the season entering its decisive phase, attention will remain fixed on the captain, and on whether his leadership can yet steady the course.
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