Celtic FC Women’s American defender Cheyenne Shorts was the player chosen to speak to the media ahead of Celtic’s SWPL1 clash with Motherwell at the Penny Cars stadium on Sunday.
In the absence of any other fan media or mainstream media outlets turning up, the Celtic Star Editor who attended yesterday’s Media Conference, received the undivided attention of Celtic’s summer signing in what turned into an exclusive interview. And we opened by asking how it felt, now with time to bed in at the club, what it felt like to be a Celtic player.
“it’s been great, I’ve been having so much fun, it’s been really cool getting to know the girls and playing has been amazing, for me getting in and getting some time on the field has been great and getting to know Glasgow, I’d never been to Scotland, so getting the culture and everything has been really cool.”
And Cheyenne and her teammates recently undertook a tour of Celtic Park – and of course the trophy room – where Shorts came across the part she and her teammates have played in Celtic’s history, that league Cup Trophy won in December with a brilliant win over Glasgow City in the final.
“To be talking about trophies from 19 whatever, to 100 years ago, then to come to one where it was ‘oh you might recognise this one’ was so cool to be part of the club’s history.”
And with the Celtic team heading to Celtic Park to play Hibs and the possibility of thousands of Celtic fans cheering them on, Shorts has admitted to being incredibly excited of stepping out at a stadium she and her teammates have only just taken part in touring around.
“We are so excited, we come in and out of the stadium most days and get to see the atmosphere, and we went to the men’s games so we could not be more excited to get on the pitch and play.”
This weekend’s game with Motherwell has little riding on it after a defeat in controversial circumstances to Glasgow City, left Celtic in third place league limbo, unable to catch City for a runners-up spot – and the Champions league qualification place that comes with it – and unlikely to be caught by any team below them in SWPL1. Yet the performance from Celtic on the day was out of the top drawer and we asked if that gave Celtic a sense of pride despite the loss.
“Yes, I think so. Obviously it stings a little bit when you’ve played well, I think our second half was better than our first and our resilience was really good, coming back and getting a goal in the second half and having a couple more chances that were pretty clear chances, hitting off the crossbar and kind of unlucky things, but considering the circumstances I think we bounced back really well an that’s how this group is, we will work until the final whistle.
“There’s not a lot more we could have done effort wise at least we can take that away from it.”
And looking ahead to the remainder of the season Shorts was very much in agreement that a chance to win a domestic cup double would make for an amazing season for the Hoops, having bagged the League Cup and due to head back to Aberdeen for a Scottish Cup Quarter final, against a team Celtic have already defeated three times this season.
“Yes it would be incredible, so now that’s all our focus on winning these next few games in the league and winning the cup also because obviously that would make history as well, so if that’s what we’re playing for then we’re going to do everything we can to win it.”
You can be there to cheer Cheyenne Shorts and the Hoops this weekend. You can buy tickets for the match HERE, and Celtic’s game with Motherwell kicks off on Sunday at 2pm at the Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie, with the Hoops looking to shake off the disappointment of last weekend’s defeat to Glasgow City and rebuild confidence ahead of a push for a historic domestic Cup double.
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Niall J
