Celtic Fc Women’s manager Fran Alonso has been speaking to the official club website about today’s news that two Celtic players – Lisa Robertson and Natalie Ross – have been called up to the Scotland squad for the two Euro qualifiers this month against Cyprus and Portugal. Due to Covid restrictions both games are being played in Larnaca in Cyprus and hopefully the two Celtic midfielders will be involved.
Alonso reckons that both players have been outstanding for Celtic this season and thoroughly deserve this International recognition.
READ THIS…Celtic midfield stars Lisa Robertson and Natalie Ross earn Scotland call-up for Euro-Qualifiers
“Firstly, credit to the players – I think both have been outstanding,” the Celtic manager stated. “Lisa was voted Player of the Month for November and Nat was close to winning it in December, so it’s credit to them and the team.
“We’ve stayed undefeated after the first game of the season, had a good season so far and obviously I’m pleased the interim manager has recognised the efforts of those two and wants to have a closer look at them, so it’s a great day for the girls but also for everyone at Celtic.
“We are all buzzing for them. It’s totally deserved and it’s a reward for their fantastic work.”
His Celtic side is involved in a three-way title challenge but a combination of a winter break followed by an extension due to the Covid lockdown of all football in Scotland outside the Premiership and Championship has left that on ice with the team desperate to get back to training then playing games. Alonso was busy during the transfer window though with three overseas players leaving the club – again due to the impact of this awful pandemic – and four new arrivals who will hopefully make Celtic stronger going into the second half of the season.
“We had a boost with the transfer window which was a positive for all of us and we were quite happy, but in the week since then we haven’t had any update on the league so to receive these call-ups is of course great news. I think it’s very good for the club,” Fran said as he noted the growing number of international players in his squad.
“When I first came to Celtic last January we had one senior international player in Keeva Keenan, and now we have a few more with Izzy Atkinson, Anna Filbey and now Lisa and Nats.
“I’ve seen something similar before. When at Southampton when Pochettino first came in there was only one international player. It was Maya Yoshida and after a few months we had Jay Rodriguez, Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren and Jose Fonte and that was credit to the club and this is hopefully what we are building at Celtic, so it’s great for everyone at the club, but the credit should be with the players who have been outstanding.”
Read the manager's thoughts as dynamic midfield duo's "outstanding" performances are rewarded with #SWNT call-ups 🏴🍀https://t.co/tz9ZW4yhrq
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) February 8, 2021
