Callum McGregor gathered the Celtic players together in a post-match Huddle following the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat at Hampden.

There was a collective disappointment within the group after losing the game, and the Celtic captain is the first to acknowledge that disappointment.

But he also wanted to remind his team-mates of just how far they’ve come this season, and with a six-point lead at the top of the Premiership table with five games remaining, there is still so much to play for to ensure a positive end to the campaign.

Speaking at the National Stadium after the game, McGregor said: “We’ve put ourselves in a really good position through a lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice, a lot of dedication, a lot of good football and a lot of strength within the group, so it’s important that we don’t lose that.

“These games – semi-finals – they’re always on a knife-edge and they can go either way.

"Of course we have to be disappointed, which we are, but we have to put that out of our mind and realise that we can still make it a really successful season for the club and for ourselves as a group and, again, that will help us grow as well.

“So it’s just important that we don’t get too downbeat and let everything fall apart from one result.

'We’ll learn from it, and we have to show what we’re about next week. That’s the biggest game of the season so we have to go there and win.'

Celtic took an early second-half lead in the semi-final at Hampden through Greg Taylor, and they had a great chance to double that lead when the ball fell to Cameron Carter-Vickers inside the box, but his shot crashed off the bar.

The Hoops conceded an equaliser with 12 minutes remaining before losing a second goal with just five minutes of extra-time left.

“It was a tight game, with both teams going for it,” said McGregor. “There wasn’t a lot in the game at all, it was fine margins but we have to accept that we probably didn’t do enough over the piece of the game, so we have to accept that.

'We’re a new group, we’re always trying to get better, we’re always pushing to get better, individually and as a collective, so experiences like that will no doubt make us stronger.'

“We have to accept that we’re not the finished article. We know that, and we’re always trying to push to be better. This is our first season together, so things like that will definitely make us stronger going forward.”

Now, the Celtic players will regroup this week and prepare for their next challenge – an away game against Ross County next Sunday.

Callum McGregor: We still have so much to play for this season