Sport nationAlistair Johnston: The Celtic Player Who Will “Prove People Wrong” This Season
In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston shared his thoughts on the upcoming season, new goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, and the Scottish Premiership. With the team coming off a strong pre-season and looking to build on last year’s success, Johnston is confident that Celtic can make a statement in both domestic and European competitions.
On the New Season
Johnston is excited about the team’s prospects, citing a strong pre-season and the new Champions League format. “We are coming off the tail-end of a very good pre-season, not only based on results but also the way the boys played,” he said. “It was impressive. I was blown away with it.” He also highlighted the importance of domestic success and taking another step in Europe. “The idea is now to push on and be strong domestically. That’s always our bread and butter. At the same time, there is a new Champions League format, and it’s going to be exciting as there are eight matches now. That gives us two extra matches to potentially give us a shot of making the next round.”
On Kasper Schmeichel
Johnston praised the new goalkeeper’s experience, presence, and quality. “Replacing Joe Hart not only on the pitch but off it is really difficult,” he acknowledged. “I think the manager did a great job with Kasper. He is a man with a ton of experience, just like Joe. He is a big presence in the locker room. He still has plenty of quality, and we saw that throughout pre-season.” Johnston believes Schmeichel will prove people wrong, just like Joe Hart did when he joined Celtic. “A lot of people wrote him off, not because they doubted his quality but because he had been out of the limelight a little bit. He’s been playing in France and Belgium for the past two years, so he was kind of out of sight and out of mind. Now he’s going to remind everybody of how much a quality goalkeeper he is.”
On the Scottish Premiership
Johnston expects Kilmarnock to be a tricky opponent on Flag Day, citing their European tie and difficult style of play. “We expect exactly the same. We are expecting them to push on as well. They have a European tie that is going on. They are going to be fresh, and they have had a lot of big games to start this year.” He anticipates a challenging season, but is confident in Celtic’s ability to start strong at home. “It’s not an easy day for us, but when you have the crowd behind you on Flag Day and everything that is going on and all the emotion involved in that, I think it will be an exciting day for our supporters. We need to start the season right, and there is no better way to do that than at home on Flag Day.”
Building a Relationship with Schmeichel
Johnston emphasized the importance of building a strong relationship with the new goalkeeper. “It is massive. Replacing Joe not only on the pitch but off it is really difficult. I think the manager did a great job with Kasper. He is a man with a ton of experience, just like Joe.” He praised Schmeichel’s ability with his feet and some of the saves he made during pre-season training. “I’m excited to build that relationship and trust with him as it is so important that you have a goalkeeper that instills confidence in the backline.”
Celtic’s Chances This Season
Johnston is confident that Celtic can make a statement in both domestic and European competitions. “We know that we have a team that can do it. We have shown it already in pre-season that we’re ready for that. That is the plan.” He emphasized the importance of starting strong, particularly in the Scottish Premiership. “We need to start the season right, and there is no better way to do that than at home on Flag Day.”
Conclusion
Alistair Johnston is confident that Celtic can make a statement this season, both domestically and in Europe. With a strong pre-season under their belt and a new goalkeeper in Kasper Schmeichel, the team is poised for success. Johnston believes Schmeichel will prove people wrong, just like Joe Hart did when he joined Celtic. As the team prepares to face Kilmarnock on Flag Day, Johnston is excited to build a strong relationship with the new goalkeeper and start the season on a high note.
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Amina Umar