Viljami Sinisalo has made a massive impact since taking over from Kasper Schmeichel in Stuttgart where he kept a clean sheet in Celtic’s first ever win on German soil in a competitive match…
A double header at Ibrox with a trip to Pittodrie sandwiched in between has now been negotiated successfully with Celtic restoring some pride against VfB Stuggart, fighting back form 2-0 down to take a crucial point at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership before a hard fought win up at Aberdeen and then that dramatic penalty shoot-out win after a 12 minute statement knocked the Rangers out of the Scottish Cup.
Sinsalo very much has established himself in those matches as a fans favourite and a clear Celtic No1. Speaking to Celtic TV as the attention turns to a long overdue home match on Saturday afternoon against Motherwell in the league, Celtic Finnish star admits that he’s loving every moment of it.
“I’m loving every moment of it. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and play, like every footballer does. I spoke with the manager about what he wants from me and what he wants from his goalkeeper in general,” Sinialo said to Celtic TV.
“Obviously I’m trying to be that by showing my own personality on the pitch and doing the best I can. I think as a group, the four games that we’ve just had, it just shows the character within the changing room.
“A lot of people might write us off, but it just shows that Celtic are not going to go anywhere. We’re going to fight until the very last game and that’s what we’ve done. We’ve come away from them four really difficult away days, all within their own right, difficult in different ways. We took some positive results out of them, so yeah, I’m happy.”
Asked if his performances have pleased Martin O’Neill, the Celtic keeper certainly hopes that the case, otherwise he might be back as a substitute before he knows it! “Yeah, I assume so, I hope so! I’m trying my best, obviously. It’s a continuous conversation that you always have. I’m trying to be as good as I can for him, to help the team win.
“I’m obviously trying to learn all the time I play. I’m probably my own biggest critic in terms of I’m a perfectionist, I want to be perfect, I want to do things better and better and better.
“It’s just about listening to the staff, him, Woodsy and everyone else and taking it on board and what I can do better in whatever way it is to help the team be successful at the end of the day.”
In these four games it was probably the save from Kevin Nisbet up at Pittodrie early in the second half with the game in the balance at 1-1, that stands out for most Celtic supporters, while Liam Scales, speaking as a defender pointed out on Sunday after the game at Ibrox that it’s a huge relief having a keeper coming for cross balls and holding on to it.
On that Pittodie save Sinisalo said: “It’s funny, it’s the work you do every day, there’s so many actions like that that you do in training and you probably don’t see it. Whether it’s from you doing work and stuff and getting that power to be able to make that save.
“It’s the day-to-day work that hopefully allows you to have that moment. If you don’t do the day-to-day work then that moment just for some reason doesn’t happen.
“But yeah, I remember saying after the game, I was just glad to help the team in any way I could. For a club like this it might be that one moment in the game that you’ve got to be there.
“I know that, I understand that, and hopefully I can keep doing that.”
Sinisalo has had to wait for his chance after he completed his move from Aston Villa in the same transfer window as Kasper Schmeichel, who now is set to see out his Celtic contract as a back-up to the 24 year old, 15 years younger than the Great Dane.
“Goalkeeping in general is almost like a sport within sport, there’s no position like it,” Sinisalo noted.
“The responsibility you have and how much you’ve got to be mentally strong to play in that position, especially what the modern game now requires of you, with your feet and commanding your box, which is getting more difficult as the days go because players are getting better and the delivery is getting better.
“It comes from your day-to-day work on the training pitch, to hopefully be in that position to go and help the team in whatever way it is, and that’s what I’ve done for the time I’ve been here and I’ll keep doing it as long as I’m here.”
After four successive away match in three competitions, Sinisalo is relishing the return to action at Celtic Park this weekend. “It’s been a hectic last four games for everyone, a lot of travel, overnight stays in hotels and stuff. So it’s great to get home, especially after such a positive run of four games. We’ve just got to kick on now.
“You’re only as good as the next game, that’s how it goes and we know how big these games are for us. We’ve got nine league games left and hopefully a couple more left in the cup. I’m sure we’ll be fighting right to the very end.”
The full interview with Viljami Sinialo is available now on Celtic TV to subscribers and there’s a shorter version on YouTube which you can watch below.
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