“Nobody Wants to Play Us Now”: Paul McGinn on Celtic Heartbreak, Milestones, and Motherwell’s Rising Belief
Despite leaving Celtic Park with nothing to show for their efforts after a 3–2 defeat, Paul McGinn believes the performance from Motherwell sent a powerful message across Scottish football. In a game where the Steelmen went toe-to-toe with the champions, took the lead, and only lost to a stoppage-time header, McGinn insists this Motherwell team is now one to be feared.
And with a League Cup semi-final on the horizon, injured players returning, and belief running through the squad, McGinn has made it clear: Motherwell are not just here to compete—they’re here to cause problems for anyone they face.
Brave at Celtic Park
It’s not often a team leaves Celtic Park disappointed after scoring twice and pushing the reigning champions to the final seconds. But that was exactly the mood in the Motherwell camp following a dramatic Sunday afternoon in Glasgow.
“I think it says loads that we’re coming away from Celtic Park disappointed,” said McGinn, reflecting after the full-time whistle. “We’re not happy to lose, even though people on the outside might say we played well or made it difficult for them. We’ve got belief now. We expect to take something from these games.”
Motherwell fell behind midway through the first half to a Kelechi Iheanacho penalty but responded impressively. Apostolos Stamatelopoulos equalised five minutes before half-time, then gave Motherwell the lead early in the second half with a composed penalty of his own. At that point, Celtic looked rattled. But the champions showed their resilience, levelling through Benjamin Nygren before Daizen Maeda broke Well hearts with a 91st-minute winner.
It was cruel on the visitors, who had looked organised, aggressive, and tactically confident for much of the match. McGinn, though, wasn’t interested in moral victories.
“We came to play, not just to sit in and hope for the best,” he said. “If you just kick it long against Celtic, they’ll munch you. They’re too good at pinning you back. But I like what we’re doing. I like how we’re trying to play. We’re brave. We’re giving teams a game, home or away, and that’s something to be proud of.”
Motherwell Earning Respect
There’s a growing sense around Fir Park that something is building. Under manager Stuart Kettlewell, Motherwell have developed a clear identity—structured, gritty, but also comfortable playing through the lines and hurting teams in transition.
For McGinn, it’s no coincidence that other teams are starting to sit up and take notice.
“You hear people talk,” he said. “Everyone knows it’s not enjoyable to play against us now—not that it ever was! But it’s in a different way now. We’re more confident, we keep the ball better, we work harder. Teams know they’re in for a battle when they play us.”
The defender admits that performances like the one against Celtic must start turning into results. But the signs, he says, are all positive.
“Hopefully we can start punishing teams more heavily. We’ve had some draws and narrow defeats where we could’ve taken more. That’s football. But if we keep doing what we’re doing, we’ll turn those into wins.”
Captain’s Century: 100 Not Out
Sunday was more than just another big match for McGinn—it was a personal milestone. The 34-year-old was making his 100th appearance for Motherwell, marking the occasion by wearing the captain’s armband at one of the toughest venues in the country.
“It’s a nice honour,” he said, reflecting with a smile. “I didn’t think too much about it beforehand because I was just focused on the game, but after it settled down a bit, it’s something I’m proud of.”
“There are a few of us in that bracket now—Callum Slattery, Stephen O’Donnell—so it’s good to have that experience in the group. It took a wee bit longer than I was hoping, considering how long I’ve been here, but I got there in the end.”
The match was McGinn’s first appearance since a 2–2 draw against Kilmarnock back in August. A frustrating injury kept him out for over a month, but when the call came to step in for the unavailable Stephen Welsh, McGinn didn’t hesitate.
“It was straight in at the deep end, but I like it that way. I’d rather just be back playing. The gaffer knew I was ready, and with Welsh out, it made sense.”
Injuries, Frustration, and the Road Back
Watching from the sidelines is never easy for a senior player, and McGinn admits he had mixed emotions during his recovery.
“It’s frustrating when you’re out. You want to be in the thick of it, especially when there are big games. Sometimes it’s even worse when the team’s struggling, because you want to be out there helping. But the lads did really well when I was out, which makes it slightly easier to deal with.”
Now fully fit and back in the squad, McGinn is ready to contribute again—and his return comes at a critical time.
Focus Turns to Hampden
With the international break now providing a brief pause in the season, Motherwell have time to reset and hopefully welcome back key players before their next run of games. Chief among those is the Premier Sports Cup semi-final against St Mirren at Hampden Park on November 1—a fixture that could define the club’s season.
McGinn knows how important the break could be for their chances.
“It’s massive. You saw that with our subs on Sunday—if we’d had someone like Callum Slattery or Callum Hendry to come on, it could’ve made a big difference. Just having that experience, that bit of know-how, is huge in tight games.”
“Hopefully we can get them and Tom Sparrow back fit soon. Then we’ll all be fighting for a jersey for Hampden. Everyone wants to play in a semi-final. It’s a big stage. It’s what you play for.”
There’s no hiding the excitement within the group about the opportunity ahead. For players like McGinn—who knows how hard these chances are to come by—it’s a moment to be seized.
A Team on the Rise
While the heartbreak of the late Celtic winner still lingers, McGinn sees a bigger picture emerging. This is a Motherwell side with a clear identity, growing belief, and the resilience to stand toe-to-toe with the league’s best.
The next step? Turn performances into results. And with Hampden on the horizon, the timing couldn’t be better.
“There’s a long way to go this season,” he said. “But if we keep doing what we’re doing, keep pushing, and get a bit of luck with injuries, I think we’ll surprise a few more people. I wouldn’t want to play us right now—and I think a lot of teams feel the same.”
Motherwell may have left Celtic Park without points, but they left with something arguably more important: belief, pride, and growing respect.
And with their captain back at the heart of it all, the road ahead looks promising.