Celtic in Dubai -‘It’s really positive to have this winter break,’ Celtic Star

KRISTOFFER AJER has been speaking to both The Celtic View and Celtic TV (see below for video) from the club’s winter training camp in Dubai.

It has been a gruelling schedule for The Celtic players since their last January stop-over in the United Arab Emirates, with the season ending after the Double Treble was secured at the end of May and the players reporting back by the middle of June. Then there were the four who were away longer to play at the World Cup – three regular starters in the Celtic first team – Lustig, Boyata and Rogic and Cristian Gamboa who doesn’t appear to be in the manager’s plans (he had an excellent World Cup so it is surprising that he never got a move).

Ajer’s Norway never made it to Russian, nor did the Scotland boys, Just as well, maybe, as it could have taken an even bigger toll on Celtic. But they got to the end of 2018 and the batteries are now being charged and the objectives are being set for what looks like being an extremely exciting 2019. Ajer can’t wait for the action to re-commence!

In the meantime though he clearly is impressed with the set-up in Dubai.

“The facilities are great here and we’re looking forward to a good week of training.

“It’s good because we don’t usually have so many opportunities to train so hard during the season because of the amount of games we’ve had in the first half of the season, so to come here and get in some really good sessions will really benefit the whole squad in terms of fitness.

“It’s really positive to have this winter break and hopefully we can push on for the rest of the season.”

Looking back on 2018 Ajer has every reason to be pleased with the way things worked out for him for club and country.

“It was a really exciting year for me. I played a lot of games and won some trophies as well, so last year means a lot to me.

“But I also know I have a lot of work still to do to develop as a footballer, which is really exciting, as well as knowing that I can learn so much from everyone here – the gaffer and all the staff, and the rest of the players.

“Hopefully we can have a really good week in Dubai and come back really fit and perform well in the second half of the season.”

You can read the full interview in the new edition of The Celtic View, out on Wednesday. Meanwhile here’s a flavour from Celtic’s twitter account about what has been happening at the club’s winter training camp in Dubai.The Kristoffer Ajer interview with Celtic TV comes after that…

The hard work for 2019 starts here…

???????? The #BhoysInDubai were put through a tough training session in their second day in the UAE. ????‍♂️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/DdrBVKCJz6

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 7, 2019

First sighting of new Bhoy Oliver Burke training with Celtic…

???? @OliverBurke55 joined up with his new #CelticFC teammates.#BhoysInDubai ???????? pic.twitter.com/J92abYACIR

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 7, 2019

Scotty Sinclair looks in control…

Putting in the hard work! #MondayMotivation ???? pic.twitter.com/eaYz0B7Bia

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 7, 2019

Celtic’s Young Guns are well represented in Dubai…

???? Good to see some of our @CelticFCAcademy Bhoys out in Dubai this year! #BhoysInDubai ???????? pic.twitter.com/wb6buw9zkc

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 7, 2019

Celtic TV talk to Kristoffer Ajer…

???????????? #BhoysInDubai

Kristoffer Ajer sits down with @CelticTV to discuss his return from injury and how he is looking forward to the second part of the season. ???? pic.twitter.com/kKRk3SRNCc

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 7, 2019

If you would like to write for The Celtic Star on any Celtic related subject of your choosing please email your submission to editor@thecelticstar.co.uk and we’ll do the rest!

Also on The Celtic Star…

Transfer Window – Week One Report, we are Up and Running!…See HERE.

‘Celtic fans are amongst the best in the world,’ new Bhoy Oliver Burke…See HERE.