Fran Alonso was refreshingly candid in terms of the long-term challenges he faces managing Celtic, when speaking to The Celtic Star and other media outlets at yesterday’s press conference ahead of tomorrow’s SWPL1 clash with Hearts.

And if you haven’t yet watched it, the press conference is very much worth a watch, as the Celtic Head-Coach outlined the difficulties of operating on a significantly smaller budget compared to other title rivals. This was especially evident when it came to an inability to replace players who left mid-season, such as Rachel Donaldson and Kathleen McGovern, and having little scope, time or budget to provide replacements, whilst also recognising the task of developing a young pool of players to realise their potential as something he very much embraces.

It really is an interview that shows us all just how lucky Celtic are to have someone as understanding as Fran Alonso in charge, but also underlines the constraints he works under compared to expensively the assembled squad depth of others in the SWPL1 – something those above the manager at Celtic may well consider addressing.

Now, ahead of facing Hearts tomorrow, the Celtic boss also has some short-term headaches, to add to his long-term squad management challenges to contend with, in terms of late international call-ups and ongoing injury issues, which means as many as four players who would normally be deemed as Under 19 players at Celtic will be drafted in for tomorrow’s crunch encounter with Hearts.

With Liv Chance, Izzy Atkinson, Rachael Johnstone and Captain Kelly Clark – who deservedly earned her first Scotland cap this week – all missing due to being on international duty, Alonso would have been within his rights to request a postponement of this weekend’s game, especially with the likes of Chloe Logan and top scorer Charlie Wellings still being unavailable due to injury.

Instead Alonso has outlined sound reasoning for pushing on with the Hearts game ahead of a tough fixture schedule in the coming weeks.

Scotland call-ups for Rachael Johnstone and Kelly Clark while Izzy Atkinson is away with Ireland, Chloe Logan is now missing with a long term knee injury  and Charlie Wellings remains sidelined with a muscle strain. Oilvia Chance will also miss the match against Hearts tomorrow. 

“Some of the players who have been called away were last minute call-ups, so now we have two more players away, but the reason was some of our players, for example Liv Chance has three games in a week,” the Celtic manager explained.

“She would travel off the back of three games in one week, play three games in a week and then come back to three again, so we don’t think a player should be exposed to so many games, especially with the intensity we play at it.

“So though we might have a slightly weaker squad, at least we have the time to recover and prepare properly for each game rather than hurry in a week.  So we decided to play, and while we have a slightly weakened squad in terms of numbers, I think the depth of squad is good and the team is playing well. We will go into the game with the desire to get the win and if we can play our normal game I believe we can get the three points.”

READ THIS…Time for Celtic to back Fran Alonso: “We don’t have the budget that other teams have got”

Celtic will of course have been buoyed by a Scottish Cup ‘skelping of theRangers with a depleted squad last weekend. As such, despite the personnel challenges, it makes sense to take advantage of the momentum gained from that against the odds win and drive ahead with facing Hearts this weekend, pointing to the incredible reaction from his players following a chastening defeat to Glasgow City in their last league encounter.

“The game against Glasgow City was a very hard game and was hard to take, but it was very important to bounce back,” he said. “I think the way we did couldn’t be any better – against our biggest rivals and being massive underdogs because of players we are missing and having one day less to rest. But we were very strong in the mind and it was a massive result for us that gave us so much belief,” Alonso said.

And Alonso also took the time to congratulate Kelly Clark on that first senior Scotland cap gained this week in their Pinatar Cup opener against Wales, stating it’s as much a proud moment for Alonso and Celtic as it is for Kelly and her family.

“I’m very proud of Kelly. It’s not easy for her because she’s part-time. She has a full-time job which is very demanding to be able juggle both and do them both so well and now representing her national team, I know it means the world to her and it does to us, so it’s a proud moment for us and Kelly and her family,” Fran said.

With tickets priced at £8 for adults and just £4 for U16s – PURCHASE HERE –  you can take the opportunity to head to the Penny Cars Stadium this Sunday to cheer on Fran Alonso and his team as they look to chase down Glasgow City, five points ahead of the Hoops in the SWPL1 table, in the race for a Champions League qualifying place, and theRangers who top the league table a further two points ahead of City and with a game in hand. Kick off for the match on Sunday is at 2pm.

It will be a huge ask for Celtic to challenge for a league title now, however as we have seen many times with this Celtic team, they always come out fighting when the chips are down. As such expect a Celtic side, depleted as they may be by international call-ups and injury, to look to eat into that league deficit, starting with a win over Hearts tomorrow.

And here’s Fran’s prediction for the weather tomorrow over at Airdrie…

🥶 Most days in February with @FranAlonsoFA!

🔥 Come and watch the #Ghirls heat up the pitch tomorrow against Hearts in Airdrie (2pm KO)!

🎟️ Tickets – https://t.co/4tQF606x2u #COYGIG 🍀 #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/mogMJ5uCQF

— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) February 19, 2022

COYGIG

Niall J

NEWS | Sunday's @parksmotorgroup SWPL 1 match between @CelticFCWomen and @heartswomenfc will be live on @BBCSportScot 📺⬇ #ParksSWPL pic.twitter.com/Yks1Pb1wQO

— Park’s Motor Group SWPL (@SWPL) February 18, 2022