Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan has delivered a stark message to his teammates, insisting that off-field turmoil at the club cannot become an excuse for poor performances on the pitch. This declaration comes fresh from a dramatic, late victory over St Mirren, secured by captain Callum McGregor's 95th-minute thunderbolt.
A Tense Victory Amidst Boardroom Unrest
The match in Paisley unfolded against a backdrop of significant fan discontent. The previous day, the club's Annual General Meeting was cut short amid stormy scenes, and before kick-off, supporters brandished red cards in a visible protest against the board. Interim manager Martin O'Neill had publicly expressed his fears that such anti-board chants could negatively impact his team, calling for unity.
However, McCowan, a lifelong Celtic fan, believes the responsibility lies squarely with the players to ensure the external noise does not affect results. 'Listen, the players, we've not got any say or control on what's happening,' he stated. 'We just need to go and do a job for this club and that's the main thing.'
The Player's Bubble: Focusing on the Football
McCowan emphasised that professional pride and quality must shine through, regardless of the circumstances. He argued that players are ultimately judged on their results and displays, and that they must learn to operate within a protective mental 'bubble'.
'Regardless of how the fans are feeling, regardless of what's going on with the board and all that kind of stuff, we need to go and get three points and it's as black and white as that,' McCowan said. 'If we have a bad performance, it's (a case of) those players weren't good enough the day, regardless of what's going on.'
He elaborated on this mindset, explaining that blocking out external pressure is a fundamental requirement for anyone playing at a massive club like Celtic, even during periods of calm.
McGregor as the Exemplary Leader
For McCowan, the perfect example of this mentality is skipper Callum McGregor. His match-winning intervention against St Mirren came just as it seemed a difficult day off the field would be compounded by a costly draw on it.
Praising his captain, McCowan said, 'He's so vocal before the game, vocal during it, but then leads by example with his qualities... He exemplifies that as a player, as a captain, as a leader.'
He revealed a post-match conversation where he told McGregor, 'Mate, you've no idea just the calmness you show in moments like that, to then go and do it.' McCowan pointed to this relentless focus and quality as the standard every player in the squad must now hammer home to navigate through the current period of division.
