Callum McGregor insists Celtic’s hurting stars can’t down tools because they are all fighting for their futures.
The Hoops were dumped out of the Scottish Cup by Rangers five days ago to end their hopes of salvaging silverware from a season of disappointment.
Celtic picked themselves up from that damning setback as well as falling behind at Aberdeen to rescue a point thanks to Leigh Griffiths’ stoppage-time header at Pittodrie on Wednesday night.
McGregor is well aware chiefs will soon be appointing a new boss and every one of his team-mates will want to ensure they remain part of the arrival’s plans.
The Scotland international knows the next manager is massive news, with Eddie Howe the frontrunner, but the squad need to focus on football.
He said: “We try not to think about it. It is a decision for the club. There is a lot of noise and subconsciously you are probably thinking about it.
“But us as players and professionals have to do our jobs, keep representing ourselves and when the club make the decision, you go again and it is a fresh slate.
“Everybody keeps pushing to impress the new manager, it doesn’t change.”
McGregor acknowledges pride has to be the main driving force in their remaining three games, starting against Rangers a week on Sunday.
He said: “You just keep going and keep fighting.
“When you have that quality, especially with Griff when he gets that one chance, it is a goal.
“It could have been easy to peter out with the way things have gone. Credit to the boys, we stuck at it and got what we deserved.
“Overall a draw and us taking something out of the game (at Aberdeen) was the right result.
“That is the professionalism of the players. Every time you represent yourself, the club, your family, you have to do things properly, regardless of silverware – you are still playing for pride.
“Both teams attacked the game in that manner and it made for a good game.
“Both teams had chances and it was end-to-end stuff. A point apiece was right.”
The never-say-die spirit was epitomised by McGregor, who sprinted the length of the pitch to stop former team-mate Jonny Hayes running through to net a killer second in the Granite City.
Aberdeen manager Stephen Glass felt it was a penalty but McGregor was delighted to get the decision.
The 27-year-old said: “You just try to follow in.
“Luckily I got enough pressure, something happened and we got the ball back.
“You just never know and you can’t give up on those situations. Sometimes when you make that extra yard, you get a wee bit of luck as well. Sometimes they go for you, sometimes they don’t. Thankfully it went for us.”
Wholesale changes are in the offing at Celtic Park this summer and captain Scott Brown has already signed a pre-contract to move to Pittodrie.
McGregor admits the skipper will be a loss and knows he will be a formidable opponent in red next season.
The midfielder said: “He will be the one kicking me! It will be strange but interesting to go up against him.
“He and I have always been partners in there and I am looking forward to the challenge. I am sure he will as well. It is a new chapter for him.
“He has been an unbelievable captain for Celtic, a huge leader and presence. Aberdeen will be gaining a real good one. I am looking forward to it.”
Team-mate Griffiths has already blasted England apart and done it in the big games.
Now the 30-year-old will be giving Scotland gaffer Steve Clarke something to think about ahead of Euro 2020 and a rematch with the Auld Enemy.
McGregor knows a fully firing Sparky has what it takes to light things up on the big stage – if the striker can force his way back into Clarke’s final squad.
Griffiths, who returned to the fold in November for the Euro play-off blockbuster in Belgrade plus a Nations League double-header, came off the bench to score a dramatic equaliser in the final seconds against the Dons, his first goal in almost three months.
McGregor wasn’t surprised because he rates the frontman as the best finisher he has seen.
Griffiths showed that when he scored two fantastic free-kicks against England in the 2-2 draw at Hampden in 2017.
He knows if Griffiths can finish the last three games on form, then he will give himself a chance of getting another pop at England, the Czech Republic and Croatia.
McGregor said: “He absolutely has the quality, it is undoubted. He is the best finisher I have seen.
“He gets one chance and it is a goal. For him, it is to keep working hard, doing the right things every day and trying to get as much game time as possible.
“After that, you just never know, especially with someone of his quality. If we can get him in the squad and firing, then he would be a huge asset.
“Just as a natural finisher, he is right up there. He is the best I have played with. He gets chances and just puts them away.
“That is the difference with the top strikers who have that real killer instinct. He has that.”
Scotland had been struggling up top but the emergence of Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes has given Clarke quality options. James Forrest’s return to fitness offers another choice, along with Kevin Nisbet and Lawrence Shankland.
On Clarke, McGregor added: “I think he will have a lot of things to think about as the manager, what type he takes and he will be covering all bases.
“Big experience in games has to count for something as well. I am not going to sit here and tell him who to pick.
“It is the manager’s choice but a fit and firing Leigh is a real asset to the squad. We just need to wait and see what happens.”
