Source: Team_Talk
Mulgrew keen to seize second chance
Charlie Mulgrew has been given a second chance at Celtic but knows it will be just as tough this time round to pin down a first-team place.[LNB] The 24-year-old left the Parkhead club for Wolves four years ago after his fledgling career came to a halt under Strachan.[LNB]He returned north of the border to Aberdeen in 2008 and, after impressing current Celtic boss Neil Lennon, was snapped up by the Northern Irishman on a three-year deal as a free agent.[LNB]Mulgrew was joined yesterday by 29-year-old South Korea defender Cha Du-ri, who signed initially on a two year deal, subject to a work permit.[LNB]The former Celtic youth player knows there is likely to be stiff competition for places under Lennon's regime and is not taking his place next season for granted.[LNB]"Obviously it's a massive club and it will be hard to get into the team," he told Celtic's television channel, Channel 67.[LNB]"But it's up to me to work hard, improve over pre-season and show I'm good enough to play here.[LNB]"It's a great club and there are great players here so it's going to be hard.[LNB]"But I was down in England and I got a feel for what it was like down there which has made me a better player.[LNB]"I've had a couple of setbacks but I've always believed in myself, in my ability.[LNB]"I'm determined and I work hard.[LNB]"I don't like to look back to the past. It's all about the future now.[LNB]"A club the size of this will always be tough. You need to prove yourself every single day but I know that and I will look to do that."[LNB]Mulgrew denied there was a clash of personalities with Strachan but claimed personal development makes him better placed to take advantage of a rare second chance at Celtic.[LNB]He said: "At the time things weren't working here under that manager and it was time to move on.[LNB]"I wouldn't say it was a personal situation. The relationship was fine. It was for football reasons.[LNB]"Different managers have different opinions on players and maybe I wasn't his type of player at the time.[LNB]"Obviously you want to get chances coming through at a club and I was disappointed that I didn't get a proper chance but when I got the opportunity to move on I had to take it.[LNB]"I had to play games - that was the most important thing for me at that time.[LNB]"These things happen in football and you just have to move on and believe you can make a career for yourself and I was happy to do that at the time.[LNB]"It's up to me now. I think I have matured as a person.[LNB]"It's maybe taken a couple of setbacks for me to be the person I am now.[LNB]"But I feel that I am definitely a better player and a better person as well."
