CELTIC'S 100 per cent start to the league campaign has them sitting pretty as far as domestic football goes.
With the challenge so far coming in the less likely form of Aberdeen—enjoying their own faultless start to the season—the early derby victory has freed Celtic up to focus a little more on Europe. Though no other club in Scotland can match Celtic’s pedigree in Europe, the days of success are firmly in the past now and European achievement is long overdue.
With The Irish Voice going to press on the eve of Celtic’s opening Champions League match—a thoroughly winnable home tie against Slovan Bratislava—there are firm hopes that this new look competition can see Celtic put a marker down early.
With a friendlier set of fixtures than they have had in recent years, it is certainly one of the best opportunities to show some progress on the biggest stage, and while domestic dominance of the type Celtic are enjoying is always an enjoyable and worthwhile endeavour, it is clear that supporters have a sense of expectation that this season will be the one which brings with it some European growth.
New faces
More tellingly, after transfer dealings last season which did little to enhance the side at Brendan Rodgers’ disposal, this year’s business looks like a significant improvement. Both Luke McCowan, a man living his dream, and Arne Engels were on the scoresheet against Hearts, while Kasper Schmeichel equalled a clean sheet record dating back over a century.
McCowan and Engels had different routes to the club, Engels coming in on big money while McCowan navigated his way up the levels of Scottish football to find his way to the champions, but each has now contributed to put points on the board for the club. Both will benefit from the shot of confidence that will give them.
It is a confidence which will permeate the squad, who looked in control even as they failed to set the heather alight against Hearts. Something was just missing, whether a hangover from the recent international fixtures or the temptation to keep one eye on the opening European match, but even with that Celtic still created chances and were well worth their victory.
“The amount of chances we create, we know we’re going to score goals, and getting a second goal means it’s nice to have a wee cushion there,” McCowan, whose goal sealed a 2-0 victory for Celtic, said. “It was special to score. I had some family here today, hoping that I’d get on, and to make it even better, I came on and got a goal, so it is a special feeling for me.”
Breaking Hearts
Looking back on the victory, Rodgers spoke about the way in which Celtic stuck to their task and got the result they were looking for.
“On the back of an international break, you always hope the players will come back and show up, and I thought there were a lot of moments in the game where we were very good,” he said. “Hearts came to make it very difficult, they worked very hard and had good physicality in the team, but if we’d scored the goal earlier—we had a few chances —then it opens the game up for you.
“We didn’t quite manage to do that but I still thought we looked lively and creative and big Craig [Gordon] made a couple of good saves as well.
“In these games you have to show up, and the players showed up very well. We kept pushing, we got the penalty and then the second goal, and unfortunately the third goal was ruled out for offside, but it was very pleasing.”
He also spoke about his two goalscorers ahead of a time when goals will become worth an awful lot more when Celtic enter the rarified atmosphere of the Champions League.
“It was a really cool finish and he showed great composure to do that, so I’m really pleased for Arne,” the manager said. “I thought he was excellent in the game—good running, good physicality and finished it with real aplomb.
“And it was such a special moment for Luke, being a Celtic supporter, to score in the game and have that feeling with the crowd.
“I think they all saw the joy that he’s had for himself and for everyone by becoming a Celtic player, and I think he felt that in the whole stadium when he got his goal. So it was a really special moment for him and a really good finish against big Craig, who’s a top keeper.”
Celtic look to have the basics well under control as they turn their eyes to a higher level, but if the new Bhoys can build on the winning combination of players they have joined then perhaps, at last, Celtic can threaten teams Europe’s premier competition.
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