Darren McGregor has deliberately not been thinking about any after match celebrations should Hibs overcome Ross County in the Scottish League Cup final on Sunday, instead he insists that he is fully focussed on preparing for the game.
Although he admits that a winner’s medal would be a dream come true, the popular defender who has happy memories of attending Hampden as a fan, maintains that the principle objective of the season is to win promotion.
Speaking to Hibs TV, McGregor said: “People have asked me what it would feel like for me as a Hibs supporter to lift the League Cup but it’s inconceivable to be honest, I’ve tried not to think about it. To sit here and think about the possibilities of taking the cup back to Easter Road and going down Leith Walk with my family is just a dream for me but I am absolutely focussed on preparing right and going into the game in the right mindset and it will take care of itself. I truly believe that we have the players to win it however.
“For me it’s about focussing on doing getting the job done and the celebrations can wait until the end of the season and hopefully we will come up to the premiership.
“Although cup runs are a side track for what we want to achieve which is to get up to the premiership, it’s a great day out for the fans.
“I’ve been to finals and semi-finals at Hampden as a fan but to be there as a players in amongst 30,000 screaming Hibs’ fans will be surreal.”
The popular defender has also praised the club for taking the players away to La Cala to prepare for the final and he insists that the trip has been great for the team morale.
He continued: “It’s been very good. Team bonding is probably one of the most important things in football, so I think four days away with the boys in nice sunshine working hard has done great for the moral and mentality of the group.
“The pitch here is in great condition and that’s one thing you don’t get back home although East Mains is a great facility but the weather takes its toll on the grass so to come away and get the pitch of this standard helps the boys, especially the technical players, not so much myself as I normally just head it and clear it but the boys who have a bit about them can actually play and pass so it’s really good.
“We were really disappointed in the games we lost which we should be winning but football has a quick turn around time so for us to sit here and dwell on results in the past would be silly but we know what we have to do and this week and next week will be a big effort but we are confident that we can go into these games and win them.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
