CELTIC MATES TREAT RYAN LIKE SKIRT
Christie: I fell out with Hoops pals cos they won’t wear a kilt
IT takes a brave man to kick about wearing a skirt. It takes a Braveheart to pull off a kilt.
Ryan Christie started a tartan barney with his Celtic team-mates when the proud Highlander insisted he was a more patriotic Scot because he loves wearing the national dress.
The Hoops ace is getting dressed to impress in Albania tomorrow night – but it will be in the dark blue rather than a sporran.
Christie could be getting stripped for action in Shkoder after hitting top form with Celts and Alex McLeish facing a Highland clearance of his own due to injuries and withdrawals.
But true Scotsman Christie is ready to step up and prove he can look the part on the pitch.
He said: “I had an argument with the boys – I said I was more patriotic than they were.
“It all started with a debate about weddings. They said they’d wear a suit for their wedding and I thought it was normal to wear a kilt. I’m in the right, am I not? “I was getting stick for it. “Of course I’ll wear a kilt to my wedding – any opportunity.
“Kieran Tierney, James Forrest and Callum McGregor were there and it got to the point where I was pulling others in from outside to try to get more on my side.
“But most of them said they would plump for a suit as well! I’m not sure I won the vote but I still know I’m right.”
There is no doubting the playmaker’s Scotland credentials and he revealed Clan Christie are part of the hardcore Highland branch of the Tartan Army.
The Hoops ace said: “For any big Scotland game my family would make a party of it and we had loads of folk round at the house.
“There is a big Scotland following from the north and I could see that for real when I was called up because of the number of calls and messages I received.”
Christie has roared on the national team since he was a kid. Not that there has been an awful lot to cheer about.
He remembers Faddy’s stunner against France more than a decade ago but there has been precious little to get excited about since.
Christie is now out to create some magic of his own by firing Scotland to a major finals.
The Nations League might have been a hard sell but this could be the best chance the country has of getting to the Euros.
Even a narrow defeat in Albania wouldn’t damage our play-off hopes as long as Scotland see off Israel at Hampden on Tuesday.
Christie said: “I remember the McFadden goal against France and Gary Caldwell’s strike against them at Hampden. We always had a houseful and a good laugh sitting down watching the football on TV.
“Unfortunately my memories of watching Scotland always end with disappointment after the qualifiers and the aim for everyone is to be the squad that makes it to a competition. To go down in history would be amazing.”
Scotland’s squad may be dwindling in numbers, with big names choosing to sit it out and an injury list that would force the Royal to take on extra staff in A&E.
But at least those who have managed to turn up without a limp have arrived in top form.
None more so than Christie, who is on a hot streak after coming in from the cold at Celtic to earn a new three-year deal.
The 23-year-old said: “It’s good we can take confidence from Celtic – where we’ve won must-win games recently – and bring that to Scotland.
“We know how big these two games are but all the boys are very confident. The way we are playing for our club means we hope to take that into Scotland’s games.
“After my debut against Holland I needed to keep my head down, concentrate on club football and eventually I knew international football would come.”