Yahoo Sport 
The lingering Celtic pain driving Callum McGregor towards Rangers redemption as serial winner is out for blood
Callum McGregor admits the hurt of last season's League Cup loss is driving him to beat Rangers in the Final.
The Celtic skipper insists he’ll never lose his hunger for silverware as he heads to Hampden on Sunday looking to add to a phenomenal medal haul. McGregor can snare his 23rd major honour and also an eighth triumph in the competition with a win over their city rivals. Brendan Rodgers’ side missed out on the silverware last season after losing in the last 16 to Kilmarnock and the captain admits the desire to get the trophy back offers huge motivation.
McGregor said: “Yes, of course it does. The ones that slip away from you are the ones that you remember. Every tournament that we play in we want to win it, we want to do the best we can. And this is the first one up for grabs. Our approach doesn’t really change, although maybe a little bit because we didn’t win it last year.
“The expectation is to win and the players know that. We have to recover well from the game against Dinamo and, when we go to the Final, we have to give everything we can to make sure it’s a positive afternoon.”
McGregor is a serial winner, but says there’s no secret formula as he stated: “I think probably because I just want the next one. And when that’s happened I park it again and go again. The hunger’s still there. At this club you have to keep proving yourself time and time again. It doesn’t matter how many you’ve won, the next one is the most important.”
Celtic have made an excellent start to the campaign both domestically and in Europe. As well as moving to the brink of the Champions League play-offs, Rodgers’ side have a nine-point lead in the Premiership.
Major trophy success would cap the first-half of the term with a statement victory as McGregor said: “I think it gives you that clarity of all the work you’ve been doing up to that point. If you can cement that with a trophy then it’s great fodder for you moving forward as well.
“The first one of the season is always big, it can set your season up as well. We know how big a game it is. The players know, they understand what the expectation is.”
McGregor has a staggering Hampden Final record with 13 senior cup wins adding to success in the youths and the excitement of the build-up never leaves. He said: “Yes it is and that’s because every one you go into you have to win, you have to be successful.
“That gives you the pressure, it keeps you sharp between the ears. It doesn’t matter how many you’ve won, the next one becomes the most important and that’s how the group will treat it.”
On his outstanding current 22-medal top-team haul, McGregor admits he doesn’t think of landmarks or topping all-time charts as he said: “I don’t think so. Of course, you’re aware of everything that’s there. But, you don’t get to where you’ve got to by chasing the numbers and chasing that type of status.
“I am humble enough to know that I’m very lucky to play for this club and to have had the career that I’ve had. I’ve done that by hard work and trying to be the best I can every single day.”
Instead, McGregor retains that drive to keep pushing as he added: “Nothing changes for me. Every day I come in and try to do my best, I try to help the team, I try to get better as a player. Every time I go on the pitch I look to get better as a player. And when we arrive in finals or semi finals I just want to get through and try to deliver as much success as I possibly can.”
