There’s a significant factor that contributes significantly to the success that both Ange Postecoglou’s and Fran Alonso’s Celtic sides have achieved over the past few seasons and that has been the outstanding player recruitment that both managers have brought to our club.

One player among so many who has been brought into Celtic and has been outstanding pretty much from the word go is Celtic FC Women’s wing-back Hana Kerner. In recent matches against theRangers and the two games versus Glasgow City, their best forward has been operating down here flank yet both were handled perfectly by the American who also found time to be a forward threat herself.

The Celtic Star and Cynic Women spoke to Hana Kerner ahead of today’s vital SWPL1 match against Hibs at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie (kick-off is at 2pm). We started by asking Hana hove she’s enjoyed her first few months playing for the Finest Team in Scotland.

“I feel like I’m starting to settle in after a few months, especially after learning more about the team and the environment. It’s been good. I think the environment here really sets players up to do well,” Hana said.

“Training is always competitive and intense, so you have to match that if you want to be able to compete. All the staff and the players are making sure to bring out the best out of each other every day. We want to do well for ourselves, each other and to be able to accomplish our goals, so I think that helps us all massively on the field.”

READ THIS…Celtic Support’s Ticket Guarantee for Three Matches that can Deliver League and Scottish Cup Glory

With real momentum behind this Celtic team as they look to retain the Scottish Cup in the final against theRangers and also win the SWPL1 title for the first time in the club’s unbroken history, Hana speaks for all the players in Fran Alonso’s side when she says that she can’t wait for today’s game.

“We are all looking forward to Sunday’s game,” Hana Kerner said. “We all know how much every single game matters at this point in the season. Every three points is just as important as the next, and we have to take care of business. It’s going to take everything that we have and every player that we have.

“We all know we have to rise to the occasion, just like we have in the past few games, and we’re excited to try and do that.

READ THIS…The form we have found: “It was the perfect week,” Fran Alonso wants more of the same

“It can be a challenge to face an unpredictable team, but at the same time we have to focus on ourselves and focus on what we can do.

“We have to trust that if we take care of that, show up and do the best we can then hopefully we will get the result. I think we can go into the game knowing that we can do that and we are preparing to do that. We are confident that we are going to prepare as best as we can. I don’t think we are taking anything or any team lightly.’

“We know how talented and strong all the other teams in the league are that we are going to come up against. If we don’t show up and do what we can do, then we won’t get the result. So we have to keep showing up.”

Watch Hana Kerner’s media conference ahead of today’s match against Hibs…