Callum McGregor is adamant there should be no panic about Celtic’s recent form dip as he vowed that the champions will rediscover their focus in time for the Scottish Cup final against Inverness.
The Hoops have won only two of their last six games in league and cup and have taken just one point from their three matches since securing the cinch Premiership title with victory away to Hearts earlier this month.
Their latest setback came on Wednesday when they lost 4-2 away to Hibernian. McGregor admits Celtic may have “subconsciously” taken their eye off the ball after wrapping up the championship but he is unfazed by the past few results.
“No, you have to put it into context,” said the captain when asked if he was worried.
“If anyone is trying to pick holes in the group for whatever reason, you just have to look at what we did up to winning the title.
“It’s been outstanding, very minimal mistakes and hardly any dropped points.
“There have been massive winning streaks, we’ve shown hunger, desire, everything.
“So of course we are disappointed with the post-split fixtures and results, we haven’t reached that level. But up until becoming champions, we were outstanding, so it’s difficult to be hard on the group.
“Yes, we want to maintain as high a standard as possible but sometimes in football it doesn’t quite work like that.”
Celtic finish their league campaign at home to Aberdeen on Saturday before attempting to seal a domestic treble a week later when they face cinch Championship side Inverness in the Scottish Cup final.
McGregor is adamant his team will be ready for the Hampden showpiece.
“The last few games haven’t been great but I have no doubt, I am full of belief,” he said.
“We have a big game on Saturday and it’s a chance to celebrate the title, and for the supporters to celebrate an unbelievable season in the league.
“We already have a cup in the bag and after Saturday, full focus switches to the final.
“I have no doubt that we will be ready to go for Hampden.
“We have a good track record of coming through the big games and the big moments.
“We have been strong as a group and that gives us the confidence that we will be ready to go for the final.
“We have a real chance to celebrate on Saturday and hopefully that will give everyone a lift.”
Spain 3-2 Switzerland: Zaragoza penalty snatches dramatic late win
Bryan Zaragoza snatched a late win for Spain, who had twice been pegged back, as they beat Switzerland 3-2 in the Nations League on Monday.
Spain started the game strongly, with Alex Grimaldo forcing a good save from Yvon Mvogo before Alvaro Morata wasted a golden chance after racing in behind the Swiss defence.
They got their reward just after the half-hour mark – Morata was bundled over in the box, and though Pedri saw the resulting spot-kick saved, Yeremy Pino fired in the rebound of Nico Williams' blocked follow-up shot.
Joel Monteiro's half-time introduction changed the game, and after fizzing an early chance wide, he scored a stunning solo goal, weaving inside from the right before finishing from a tight angle in the 63rd minute.
Bryan Gil restored Spain's lead five minutes later, jinking away from two defenders with some clever footwork and beating Mvogo with a pacy shot, before Zeqiri levelled the scoreline for a second time with a sweeping penalty.
However, Zaragoza would have the final say in the 93rd minute after Vincent Sierro, who had won Switzerland's penalty at the other end, brought him down, and the substitute emphatically fired in the winner.
Spain finish top of Group A4, going unbeaten across their six games, while Switzerland are relegated to League B after failing to win any of their matches.
Data Debrief: Spain extend unbeaten run
The result on Monday would not have affected Spain's hold on top spot in the group, but Luis de la Fuente's side showed their mettle as they kept fighting to the end.
Excluding friendlies, La Roja have played 13 matches in 2024 in all competitions and have not lost a single one (W12 D1), setting the record for their most competitive matches without defeat in a single year, as well as their most wins.
In fact, Spain are currently on a run of 21 competitive games without defeat in all competitions (W19 D2), their best run since June 2010-13 (29).
Croatia 1-1 Portugal: Gvardiol earns draw as hosts advance in Nations League
Croatia joined Portugal in the quarter-finals of the Nations League after the sides played out a 1-1 draw in Split on Monday.
Josko Gvardiol equalised in the 65th minute after Joao Felix had put Portugal – already assured of top spot – ahead in the first half at Stadion Poljud.
That goal ensured Croatia finished a point better off than Scotland in Group A1 after they earned a late 2-1 victory over Poland in Warsaw.
In the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix stepped up by taking Vitinha's pass in his stride and calmly firing past Dominik Livakovic in the 33rd minute – the goal allowed to stand after a VAR check for offside.
Andrej Kramaric blasted an effort back off the crossbar and Gvardiol had a goal disallowed for offside either side of the interval as Croatia pressed for a leveller.
Gvardiol found the net again soon after, though, and this time it was allowed to stand as he got on the end of Kristijan Jakic's delivery at the back post.
Livakovic and Jose Sa produced fine saves to deny Nuno Mendes and Ante Budimir, who also hit the outside of the post, but neither side could find a winning goal.
Data Debrief: Gvardiol scores again against blunt visitors
Roberto Martinez opted to release Ronaldo, Silva, Pedro Neto and the suspended Fernandes back to their clubs before this game and Portugal lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.
Joao Felix took his chance very well, scoring his one goal from an expected goals (xG) value of 0.58 across the 90 minutes, but the visitors were unable to find the net from any of their other 11 attempts.
Croatia's attackers were also frustrated by a mixture of the frame of the goal and Sa, but in-form defender Gvardiol was the hero as he netted for the fourth time this season already for club and country.
Hayes without Rodman, Swanson and Smith in USA squad
Emma Hayes will be without Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith for the United States' upcoming international friendlies against England and the Netherlands.
The trio, who played starring roles for the USA at the Olympics, are not included in the 24-player squad due to what are being described as "nagging injuries".
All three players were among the top scorers at the tournament in Paris, with Swanson netting four times, including grabbing the winner in the final to claim gold, while Smith and Rodman scored three apiece.
They were also included among the nominees for the Ballon d'Or, but Hayes has opted to rest them for the final international break of the year "after a long year representing club and country".
The head coach does hand out a first senior call-up to Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who has impressed this season after stepping in to replace Mary Earps, keeping six clean sheets in the Women's Super League, and Ally Sentor.
"This is the end of a wonderful year, but we're still at the beginning of our process of building towards qualifying for the next World Cup," Hayes said.
"So, this trip will be about testing ourselves against two world-class teams with opportunities to develop our roster.
"We will continue to build relationships on and off the field, and I'm really excited to work with this group as we continue to set the stage for 2025."
The USA face England at Wembley Stadium on November 30 before travelling to the Netherlands on December 3.
USA squad in full:
Mandy Haught (Utah Royals FC), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Eva Gaetino (Paris Saint-Germain), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Lily Yohannes (Ajax), Yazmeen Ryan (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals FC), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
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