‘We are used to not listening to outside voices,’ Celtic Star

RYAN CHRISTIE has every reason to look forward to football getting underway in 2019 this weekend. The midfielder has been transformed from a bit part player, unable to get any meaningful time on the park for Brendan Rodgers and in all likelihood heading to the exit door at Celtic to becoming a regular first team starter and a key member of the side as it enters the second half of the season in pursuit of a first ever Treble Treble and with an interest remaining in European football.

And as if to prove his enhanced importance to the club, he was also tied up on a new, improved, long term contract at the club at the end of 2018 and he has forced his way into Alex McLeish’s starting eleven for Scotland. Oh and let’s not forget that Christie scored the only goal in the Betfred Cup Final in December against Aberdeen.

It was clearly an eventful few months for Christie and he’s now hungry for more.

“I’ve been delighted with how it’s panned out, signing a new contract to get that stable mindset to get better at Celtic,” he told the media while in Dubai last week.

“It always helps when times are tough to have a really good set of people around you and I have. I’ve mentioned him a lot, but my dad is there and close to home, the guys at Celtic and the manager.

“When I was going on loan to Aberdeen, he was telling me why and what I needed to work on, so I never really felt in my head my time was over and I slowly managed to work my way into the team.

“I can’t complain. There had been a few ups and downs through the year, but I was delighted with the way it panned out in the end. I managed to find a bit of from through November and December which I was pleased with.

“Obviously, the Salzburg game gave me a wee scare, but I was able to come back about 10 days later and I was quite lucky there.

“At the time, I was in a lot of pain and on the pitch, there was a bit of talk it might be broken. When you hear that sort of thing, you fear the worst, but it was okay to come back pretty soon.

“It’s nice to be well thought of. When we went on that great run through November and December, it was a real team effort and the likes of James Forrest and everyone were at the top of their game. That’s what we’re striving for again because we all know, as we’re confident in our ability, that we can do that.”

The Airdrie match on Saturday will of course be the first game since losing at Ibrox on 29 December and Christie reckons that by getting back to playing, the squad can allow themselves to move on from that disappointment and start putting things right.

“The manager said after the game it was the first time we’d been beaten by Rangers in his reign and we need to learn from it. It needs to be a learning curve. We’ll try and do just that and it has given us the hurt to get back after the break and really kick things on.

“We’ll respond positively, I think. We have enough confidence in our camp that we are used to not listening to outside voices. We know how good we can be and this trip helps the manager get tactical ideas across and, when we come back, we can really kick on.

“Everyone has said it’s a more competitive league this season and that’s throughout it. Not just at the top of the table. There isn’t an easy game and that’s good for Scottish football. It’s bringing excitement back.”

Also on The Celtic Star…