“The fans have been brilliant,” says Celtic star. “They’re pushing us on until the final whistle and it’s great”

David Turnbull is loving how football playing in a midfield alongside the likes of Tom Rogic and Callum McGregor and is full of praise for new signing Joe Hart and Academy Bhoys Steven Welsh and Anthony Ralston while paying a huge compliment to the Celtic support who have made a significant impact since returning to support the team, according the the midfielder.

“Everybody in the dressing room is delighted,” David Turnbull said after the 2-0 Europa League Play-off first leg win over AZ Alkmaar on Wednesday evening, Celtic’s fifth win in a row as the Postecoglou Project gains real momentum at Paradise. “It was a tough game. We knew coming into it we had to be on our game and we were,” the midfielder admitted, as reported by Scottish Sun.

David Turnbull rues a missed chance during the Europa League play off first leg match at Celtic Park, Glasgow Photo by MB Media

“It gives us a lot of confidence and the past few games as well. It’s breeding through the team and everyone else involved. I think you see that on the pitch, so it’s just about continuing with that.

“It’s just the manager getting his ideas across and getting boys in and the team that he feels is right at the moment. We are all gelling together. It’s working so far, so long may it continue.

“That’s the way he wants us to play and everybody’s buying into it and it’s working on the pitch so far. We all want to go out there and express ourselves and that’s what we’re doing.

“We’re working hard in training, but at the moment it’s a tough schedule, so there’s not as much training as we’d like. That’s what I’m sure all the boys would want. Personally, I’m feeling a lot fitter. I’m feeling great and it looks like everybody else is too.

Celtic v AZ Alkmaar – UEFA Europa League – Play-Off – First Leg -Celtic Huddle Photo by Andrew Milligan

“The manager’s always demanding more off of us, whether in training or games. He is always telling us before and at half-time to keep working hard, keep pressing for the team and win the ball back and that gets a good reaction off everybody.”

Turnbull was asked if he’s getting more shut-eye as a result of the turbo charged style of football that the Australian Stein has brought to the club. “Maybe a wee bit. I’ve always been a bit of a napper!” he joked, before admitting it’s a dream come true to be surrounding by the best passers in the Scottish game in Tom Rogic and club captain Callum McGregor.

Celtic v AZ Alkmaar – UEFA Europa League – Play-Off – First Leg -Photo: Andrew Milligan

“Yeah, it’s great. We know what Tom can do, he’s magic on the ball. And I love playing with Cal when he’s sitting behind me. He always finds the ball and he manages to find me or Tom in the pocket. It’s great to play with the both of them.

“I have played against Tom a good few times, so I knew how good he was. Training with him all last year and this year, you can see he’s class and he brings that to the table. That’s what we’re wanting,” Turnbull added.

The midfielder, a £3m buy from Motherwell last season, struggled to last more than 70 minutes in matches in his first season at the club. That is clearly an issue that Postecoglou has sorted and there’s going to be much more to come for the player on the verge of breaking into the Scotland side.

Turnbull also was full of praise for the Celtic defence and the goalkeeper Joe Hart who contributed to the win with that stunning early save and an assured performance throughout, he’s the kind of quality goalkeeper we’ve missed since the on loan Fraser Forster went back to Southampton. And home-grown talent in the shape of Stephen Welsh and Anthony Ralston were both immense according to their midfield teammate.

Celtic v AZ Alkmaar – Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart makes a save during the UEFA Europa League Play-off, first leg match at Celtic Park, Photo: Andrew Milligan

“Since Joe has come in he’s been excellent,” Turnbull admitted. “You see the save he pulled off on Wednesday night in the first few minutes. That’s what we need. Every game we’ve played he’s looked very comfortable, and he’s playing the way we want to as well.

“Tony and Welshy have been excellent coming into this season. Welshy had a good few games last year and he is kicking on now and Tony has been non-stop down the right. They have really stepped forward. It probably wasn’t the season they wanted last year, but this year the two of them have looked brilliant.

Celtic v AZ Alkmaar Anthony Ralston Photo : Andrew Milligan

“Tony maybe wasn’t sure what was going to happen this season. But every game he’s been in he’s been amazing and it’s about continuing it. He was outstanding again against Alkmaar. He was rampaging up and down the right side and it’s great to see.”

A big factor that’s different about this season is the return of Celtic’s twelfth man, the support and just how important our absence from games was last season was pretty much there for alls to see on a match by match basis during that dreadful campaign where Celtic were just not at the races and the Covid Champions effectively found themselves winning a one horse race. None of their supporters got to watch any of that solitary success for their club in person, and strangely since their own return their team has responded by reverting to type from before the lock-out from matches kicked in.

Celtic v AZ Alkmaar – UEFA Europa League – Play-Off – First Leg – Celtic Park Celtic fans supporting the team. Photo Andrew Milligan

“The fans have been brilliant since the first game they came back. It is great to see them and the noise is incredible,” Turnbull noted. “It was tough last year without them. I hadn’t experienced it, but definitely coming into this season they have got right behind us and that’s what the team needed.

“They’re pushing us on until the final whistle and it’s great.”

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About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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