Viljami Sinisalo has opened up on what it is truly like training alongside his ‘idol’ Kasper Schmeichel…
The Finnish goalkeeper who has yet to feature in a competitive game for Celtic since arriving from Aston Villa for £1m in the summer waxed lyrical about the Danish no.1s qualities on and off the park.
Sinisalo was joined by fellow teammates Daizen Maeda, Nicolas Kuhn and Luke McCowan at Argyle Street’s JD Store in Glasgow where supporters were given the opportunity to meet their stars and ask some questions.
Speaking at the event, Sinisalo outlined, “Kasper, for instance, is someone I have always looked up to, watched on the TV, he has been an idol of mine since I have watched football in the Premier League.”
He continued, “the level of respect I have for him, I can’t really put it into words. A brilliant goalkeeper, he still is to this day and has had an unbelievable career.”
He continued, “you can see on matchday how big he is for the team, and he is someone I am obviously looking forward to learning from however long he is here for. It has been really good, which has been brilliant as well with me. There is a plan, and I have always enjoyed training with both of them [Schmeichel and Bain].
Whatever that plan is it has been kept inside the club. However, with Schmeichel signing a one-year contract with the option of extending at the end of the season, Sinisalo could well be Celtic’s no.1 next season.
The 22 year-old impressed at Exeter City last season in EFL League One and produced an excellent display for his national team against Scotland in June at Hampden Park.
Despite being the only summer recruit yet to play a minute, his chance will come. Remaining patient must be the key for the young goalkeeper who has a bright future ahead under the stewardship of Brendan Rodgers.