Callum McGregor sees no Celtic dead rubber in Rangers derby finale as he names 3 things champions are playing for

It's funny to think there was so much stink surrounding the prospect of an Old Firm friendly match in Sydney earlier this season and now we’ve ended up with a bounce game between the big two in Govan.

The Premiership title is already under lock and key at Parkhead, so today’s latest instalment in this long-running Glasgow sage has been rendered meaningless. Or has it? Callum McGregor is pretty clear. “I don’t think so!”, was the emphatic response to the tongue-in-cheek suggestion this will be a mere friendly encounter. The Hoops skipper knows better and he insisted: “There’s no such thing as a dead rubber in these games. There’s always something to play for.

“You are playing for pride, your supporters – you are playing for the badge. These players understand that, which is part of the reason we’ve been so good in these games. It’s another good test for us to go there with no supporters, go in there with a siege mentality and try to get a positive result. We can go there full of confidence as we go there as champions and we can show our personality. It’s probably the perfect game for us after just securing the league. The focus is right on it again because there’s an expectation and a demand.”

McGregor knows more about this fixture than anyone on the park today and he’s well aware of the psychological warfare involved. Rangers are looking for crumbs of comfort from a painful campaign where they’ve been a distant second best.

McGregor doesn’t want to give them any encouragement for next term. He said: “Of course. There’s always something to play for even if the trophy is done and dusted.

“They will want to go into next season with a bounce on the back of a positive result in the final league game. It’s important we aim