Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I made my prediction and thank god that it came true
MYSTIC GIAK DIDN’T NEED A CRYSTAL BALL..JUST BELIEF
IT was a refreshing moment of honesty in a sport where players and managers will jump through hoops to avoid saying what they really think.
Back in February, Giorgos Giakoumakis had folk gasping and jaws dropping when he claimed Celtic were better than Rangers in every department and insisting the trophy was destined for Parkhead.
It turned out the big Greek could do a turn touring alongside Mystic Meg.
Giakoumakis stuck by his words despite a few noses being out out of joint across the city and vindication arrived in midweek when his thumping header against Dundee United delivered the title in Ange Postecoglou’s (right) first campaign as manager.
No one was going to deny the striker his big ‘I told you so’ moment. Giakoumakis chuckled as he said: “I have been proved correct – thank God!
“I just said we would be champions because I felt we were the best team and playing the best football.
“It was about believing in my team and nothing else.
“I was being honest. I wasn’t trying to pick a fight with anyone – it was what I believed.
“Could I say I told you so? Exactly! We won the title so it was the truth.
“It wasn’t something we did not expect. We worked hard every single day from the first to the last and tried to improve ourselves in every training session and game. It was all worth it.” It just had to be Giakoumakis delivering the telling blow in the title race. The frontman has talked the talk but backed it up by walking the walk.
Now he’s looking forward to today’s lap of honour against Hearts. The former AEK Athens and VVV Venlo hitman said: “It was really enjoyable at the ground on Wednesday and back at Celtic Park aftrewards.
“But that was just part one of the party. Now we have the big one when we get the trophy. “It was something really nice to score the goal. I celebrated the goal as normal as I didn’t think that would be the one to secure the title. “In the end we all celebrated the same way because it did not matter who scored. But it was really nice to do it in front out our fans. They were amazing for us and I dedicate the goal to them.”
The 27-year-old was a late arrival, struggled to get up to fitness, fluffed a crucial penalty against Livingston back in the bumpy days of autumn and then got injured when warming up to come off the bench.
Giakoumakis knows the punters had their doubts – but he knew he’d win them over.
He said: “When I came I hadn’t had a proper pre-season and I didn’t play many games.
“Then I got a knee injury and needed some surgery. It was a tough period for me.
“At that time the fans didn’t know what I was capable of on the field. They had their doubts, which was fair, to be honest.
“Since January I proved myself and I love the real connection I have with the fans now.”