What a “Beautiful Sunday” yesterday afternoon at the Home of the Champions, a great display, and a great victory that keeps us on course for a “Double” there is no better place to watch football than at a sun soaked Celtic Park, with our colours flying high. I never feel totally comfortable playing against Sevco at any time, we all know there are far too many influences on the game which are outside our control. The game was pretty even in terms of possession, that was because when we scored the third goal we seemed to sit back and allow them possession. Nick Walsh once again played his part in stopping Celtic playing speedy football, and once again Walsh awarded double the fouls against Celtic than our opponents.
What can you say about the phenomenon that is Daizen Maeda? I have never seen any player with the work ethic of Daizen, I have seen plenty of players with better technique, and in all honesty, if Daizen was a natural finisher, who scored regularly, he would be playing for Real Madrid, Barcelona, or PSG, and he might just do that in the near future, although I would love him to sign a new extended contract. Apart from his obvious speed and workrate the hammer throwers at Sevco tried to bully him, but Daizen is a brave warrior, and doesn’t turn his back on any aggression aimed at him, he just keeps running and challenging in tackles.
It was a great all round display from the team yesterday, and as well as Daizen I thought Callum was back at his best, snapping into tackles all over the park, the same could be said of Arne Engels he put in a load of work beside Callum. Luke Mc Cowan looked a wee bit lost at times out on the right flank, but what a magnificent pass to Arne for our opening goal, it was really important to go in at the interval at least on level terms. The first fifteen minutes of the second half was brilliant from Celtic, Liam Scales played a great ball to Kieran, who fed Daizen for a simple tap-in. then about four minutes later Daizen scored an outstanding overhead kick from around thirteen yards out, it was as if the game was now being played in slow motion as the ball dropped into the side netting, one of the best goals ever scored by a Celtic Player, and right up there with the Henrik dink, and the Naka free kick versus Manchester United.
After that we appeared to be just managing the game, and hitting on the counter attack, and although I would have loved us to score a few more goals, I’ll happily settle for the 3-1 score line. The title is now in our own hands, win our two games and we will be “Champions” it’s just as simple as that. Motherwell are a good team, and won’t make it easy for us, they have a few really good players who can hurt you, when they beat us at Fir Park earlier in the season they thoroughly deserved their victory. This time we need to show the same commitment as we did yesterday, we need to fight for every ball, and we need to take our chances. There is no bigger incentive than to know we can win our fifth title in a row, and complete the first part of a Double, it would be a remarkable achievement considering some of the turmoil we have went through this season.
The Celtic Support played their part in the victory yesterday and we still have a big part to play, starting at Motherwell on Wednesday night, and then Celtic Park on Saturday. We all know the support gives the players energy, they know we are with them, and if we do our bit, then the players will surely do their bit, its definitely all hands to the pumps, so let’s do this Celtic.
Glasgow’s still Green & White.
