While all Celtic eyes will be on Hampden this lunchtime, there is another match kicking off at 2pm which is absolutely vital to Celtic FC Women’s charge for the SWPL1 title. The Ghirls are at home to Hibs and while we shouldn’t expect a repeat of the scoreline the last time the sides met at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie (Celtic won 9-0), a win with a good few goals scored too would be an ideal way to round of the afternoon, following on from the positive result at Hampden that we are all hoping for.
The Celtic Star and Cynic Women spoke to the Celtic manager Fran Alonso and the mightily impressive American wing-back Hana Kerner ahead of this match against Hibs. Yesterday we covered the situation in the league and expect all three title challengers to pick up three points this afternoon.
Then Celtic take on theRangers on Thursday night, play Partick Thistle next Sunday and then Glasgow City are the visitors to Celtic Park a week on Thursday and if Celtic can continue our outstanding form and win all those games then we would be massive favourites to see out the remaining two matches against the Edinburgh sides to win our first ever SWPL1 title.
And there’s also the not insignificant matter of the Women’s Scottish Cup Final, which will be played at Hampden for the first time, and it’s against theRangers. Celtic defeated Glasgow City in the semi-final last weekend and speaking to The Celtic Star, Fran Alonso had this to say about the semi-final win over Glasgow City.
“I thought it was a 50/50 game but we dominated both boxes and that is the most important thing in football,” Fran Alonso told The Celtic Star. “I think we have played better before against Glasgow City, but the biggest thing we wanted going into the game was to compete, and we were very good competitors, which helped us reach the final.
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“We dominated both boxes and we were clinical when we needed to be. We also defended perfectly, including Pamela Tajonar making some great saves. So we’re delighted that for the second year in a row we are in the Scottish Cup final. It is a fantastic achievement, and we are now one step away from our dream.”
Turning his attention to the SWPL campaign, where there is no doubt that Celtic are the form side, Fran Alonso had this today as he looked forward to today’s game against Hibs: “We are in good shape. Training was fantastic and it was very intense which, for me, is very important because players are really competing for positions.
“Obviously all the fixtures coming up are fantastic games, and nobody wants to miss. So they need to earn that spot in training. The three games last week were incredible. All three of them were very difficult games – all away from home too. To get three wins, it was the perfect week.
“It was the most important week of the season, until now. In terms of Hibs, they are a very unpredictable team. They have played three different formations this year, and even against us they have changed shape.
“At times they have sat deep, gone with a medium block or pressed us, all in the same game. It’s very difficult to predict.”
Referring to that incredible 9-0 victory at the start of the season over Hibs, The Celtic Star joking asked Fran Alonso if his side could score ten this time. “At the beginning of the season, we played against a team who had just assembled. They had only been together for a week or two. The players weren’t gelled and you could see that some of them didn’t know each other very well. We had obviously worked together for a few weeks.
“That day we were fantastic, and it was probably one of our best performances this season. I wouldn’t say the best, but certainly one of them,” Fran Alonso added. “But they are a much better team than that now. They are much better organised. I would be happy with the three points, and if we can keep a clean sheet that’s even better. We know it’s not going to be a similar score-line this time around. Last time it was 2-0 and they had a few chances. For parts of the game, they were on top, not for long spells, but they were on top. So we know that we have to be at our best.
“It’s very important that we work hard, and we keep focused from the first minute because they are a good team.”
There is a serious side to hunting down as many goals as possible in this title run-in because with three teams eyeing the trophy goal difference could be a deciding factor, and at present Celtic lead the way on that. However a big win for one of the other two could swing that advantage away from the Hoops.
Here’s Fran Alonso speaking to The Celtic Star and Cynic Women ahead of today’s game against Hibs, which kicks off at 2pm…
COYGIG
