CRAIG GORDON reckons that Celtic are rested, refreshed and ready to get on with the second part of the season, starting late on Saturday afternoon against Airdrie in the Scottish Cup.
Celtic then have a run of home league matches against St Mirren next Wednesday (23 January), Hamilton (Saturday 26 January) and St Johnstone (Wednesday 30 January), so the objective for January is progressing on the Cup and 9 points from the 3 league games at Celtic Park, which would see a lead of at least 3 points opening up.
The winter shutdown gave Celtic the chance to travel to Dubai for some winter sunshine and warm weather training and this, Gordon believes will yield dividends for the team in the weeks and months ahead.
“Ultimately, it’s all about getting ready for the second-half of the season,” The Celtic keeper told the new edition of The Celtic View.*
“We had a good first part, and we’re happy that we’re sitting at the top of the league, we’ve managed to win the League Cup, and we’re still in Europe.
“In terms of what we were looking to do at the start of the season by this point, we’ve managed to do that and now we can really push on into the second part of the season, and try to win more trophies.”
Gordon of course was one of the few stand-outs in the game at Ibrox, indeed he kept the score down on that afternoon to forget for Celtic. And he has been reasonably pleased with his own form so far this season.
“I did feel as if I was in a good place. Things were going well, I was getting in between games comfortably, and I was in a good rhythm playing two matches per week. Everything was going pretty well in terms of the preparation for each game, and I was feeling good going into them.
“I was pleased to be able to help the team out by making a few saves in the last few games, which is always important for a goalkeeper, to make you feel that you’re contributing in that way.
“That’s the main reason we’re there, and it was good to contribute that to the team. It’s perhaps a little bit bittersweet when you make saves and it doesn’t equate to any points, but I’m always pleased to play as well as I can for the team.”
*Read the full interview with Craig Gordon in the new edition of The Celtic View which is out today.
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