Anthony Ralston spoke to both the mainstream media and the Celtic Fan Media at yesterday’s Media Conference ahead of tomorrow’s Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park against theRangers. We have already covered the outcome of the Q&A with the hacks, which the right right back handled perfectly – see HERE – and now we’re moving on to the Celtic Fan Media questions for the Celtic right back.
Celtic Fan Media: There is a lot of togetherness and real bond within the team and the manager has spoken about it being the personnel driven and hiring the right people and then the environment takes care of itself. Is the environment something that has been fostered by the players and does he let the captain have his say in it?
Anthony Ralston: “We’ve got a great changing room and whether the boys have been here from previous years and whether boys have come in we have all embraced each other in terms of making an effort, especially with the likes of the Japanese boys that have come into the club in terms of the language barrier and things.
“We make a lot of time to bond with each other and that has been driven by the gaffer coming in. It is key that the personality is there as well as the football and I feel this season we have a right good changing room and all the boys have gelled really well together and it shows on the pitch with our football. ”
Celtic Fan Media: Having been at Celtic for a while are you one of those who can help the foreign-based players settle quicker?
Anthony Ralston: “I like to have a bit of banter with the guys and have a laugh. That is important in the changing room and we have quite a lot of boys in here who can help with that. Yet it is also important that you make the effort, especially with the boys who have the language barrier and need to settle in as they come from different countries and have different backgrounds.
“It is important that if you have been here for any length of time and understand the club and how it works and different things then you try and help them settle as much as you can. We have a great changing room of home-based players who can do that not just myself and I feel the boys have settled in great and it has been good.”
Celtic Fan Media: You have had a cracking season and your goal against Hearts on the opening day of the season was a great goal – what is your own personal highlight?
“That’s a good question. I think I’ve got many highlights but the overall one would be the consistency of playing has been the main thing for me this season. It is no secret but this is the club where I want to play my football and I have been a fan all of my life.
“The consistency of playing week in, week out and being involved in the games and just contributing to the team over the course of the season up until now has been the main thing after having last season where I wasn’t involved. Being able to turn that around and being a big part of the team this season and being involved with the boys and playing is my overall highlight among the other things that have happened this season. It has been great.”
Celtic Fan Media: How has Ange personally changed your game, your approach, your mentality for example?
Anthony Ralston: “My mentality has always stayed the same. Get the head down, work hard, listen and learn. The gaffer has been great in implementing his style of play and he has also given me the confidence by saying go in and play and the trust is there.
“The way he has implemented the style of football which is different for a full-back and the other lads have had to learn their roles and we have just tried to embrace it as much as possible and listen and it has clearly been working. He has done a great job with the whole team overall.”
🗣️ "We’re all in a good place physically and mentally and we’re ready to go for the weekend." – @anthonyralston8 #CELRAN | #cinchPrem | #COYBIG🍀
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) April 29, 2022
