Sarah Teegarden has a pre-arranged date back home in the States as SWPL season drew to an exciting close a few months back. That of course was her wedding – the season’s schedule had been pushed back due to Covid- so in these circumstances Celtic quite naturally came a distant second. Nevertheless Sarah was very anxious to discover how the race for the two Champions League places played out and chatted to us about catching up with the games, mentioning THAT win at theRangers Training Centre (that made it 3 wins from 3 games against them last season).
Today Sarah told us that one of her main professional targets – to play in the Champions League – was therefore dependent on how her teammates got on in these closing league matches and the Celtic bride was certainly not disappointed as Fran Alonso’s side powered its way past theRangers and took the long-time title winners Glasgow City to the last day of the season before their somewhat predictable win over theRangers gave them the title.
Still Celtic’s Champions League place was secured that day in June, amid an avalanche of goals over the closing few matches as Celtic gave Glasgow City a gigantic fright. Speaking to the Celtic Fan Media today, including The Celtic Star, Sarah gave er assessment of what’s in store for Celtic in the club’s debut in the Champions League next Wednesday against one of the top sides in Spanish women’s football – Levante.
Accepting that Celtic will very much be regarded as underdogs in this game the American nevertheless spoke confidently about our chances. “It’s a goal for Celtic to play in the Champions League and personally it’s always been a dream of mine,” she said. Teegarden reckons that these games will be massive for individual development within the young Celtic squad and players will benefit from experiencing football at this level, and they have been working hard to find ways to worry the Spanish girls.
For her own role this season as perhaps one of the more senior players in what is a very young Celtic squad, Sarah reckons she’s ideally placed to assist younger players through mentoring and passing in her experience in the game. There’s a burning ambition though. One of the main targets – reaching the Champions League – may have been reached last season but the other one was not. That of course is winning the SWPL title – Glasgow City and theRangers be warned! Sarah Teegarden was very clear today, this is the main Celtic target.
Celtic kick-off their SWPL campaign on Sunday (15 August) at home to Hearts at the Penny Cars Stadium over at Airdrie, kick-off is at 2pm and tickets are available if you aren’t heading through to Paradise to see Ange Postecoglou’s side play Hearts in the League Cup. Celtic B team are also playing their Southern League matches at the Penny Cars Stadium, it’s a great wee stadium and if you can you should get along to a few games this season.
After the Hearts game on Sunday it’s a short flight to Norway for the Celtic FC Women squad for that Champions League debut in midweek. COYGIG!
Watch Sarah Teegarden speaking to the Celtic Fan Media, including The Celtic Star, below and we’ve also been speaking to Fran Alonso, more on that coming up shortly….
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— Celtic FC B (@CelticFCB) August 13, 2021
Make tea and sit in the garden and leave the fitba to the men.