WHAT MORE DO YOU Welsh insists Duffy attitude speaks volumes
Coronavirus tests and stadium preparation are costing clubs ‘a lot of money’ Celtic must take ‘five or six buses’ to Dingwall to stay in hotel ‘probably just open for us’
THE narrative of the spoilt, pampered footballer who thumbs his nose at the ordinary fan has had plenty of mileage this week, and it has to be said, there are a portion of them who seem to do their best to perpetuate the cliché.
But whether it is the five Rangers players who were found to have attended a house party or Celtic’s Boli Bolingoli jetting off for 24 hours in Spain last summer, the extreme examples of unacceptable behaviour do a disservice to the vast majority of footballers who are abiding by the rules, and indeed their clubs, who are adapting to playing during a pandemic at great financial cost.
Certainly, that is the view of Celtic manager Neil Lennon, who you sense is becoming increasingly exasperated with the tarring of the game as a whole, and particularly his club and players, with the same brush as those few individuals who have let everyone else in Scottish football down.
Lennon gave a peek behind the bubble as he lifted the lid on what lengths clubs are going to in order to keep playing football, and more importantly, in order to keep their players safe.
“I think the talk of privilege is overplayed,” Lennon said. “I think 95 per cent in football have adhered to the rules and protocols.
“The tests have been carried out at great expense by a lot of the clubs all season. It costs a lot of money to set up the stadiums, particularly ours.
“Now we take four or five coaches to games, which has changed since Dubai for some reason.
“We got tested on Friday and then we travel up [to Dingwall for tomorrow’s game against Ross County] on five or six buses to stay at a hotel, which will probably be opened just for us.
“We will be in our own area and then we will travel to the stadium in five buses. Then we will travel home on five buses.
“It’s brilliant having a game in Dingwall on a Sunday night at 7.30pm. That’s a new one.
“Your whole normal routines, what you’ve been used to over the years, are totally different,
Global Energy Stadium
Tomorrow, 7.30pm Sky
totally changed. And obviously there is that disconnect sometimes when you are travelling together and then you’re travelling separately, four or five people on a massive 52-seater.
“It is strange, but I’m not complaining about it, I’m happy that football’s going ahead. The players’ health and well-being has been really important as well, and it has provided a lot of talking points and debate, and plenty of interest for the public who can’t be at the games.”
One of the main talking points among Celtic supporters right now, at least in a positive sense, is the form of midfielder David Turnbull, whose stunning goal against Aberdeen on Wednesday evening gave his side their fifth win on the bounce. Lennon is fulsome in his praise of the youngster, who discussed his own ambitions of making the Scotland squad for the European Championships this summer after the win over the Dons.
“That would be a question for Steve Clarke and his backroom team,” said Lennon.
“He’s done very, very well. He’s got a good return of goals already for a lad who has just come into the squad really.
“He started playing consistently since October. There are still some things he needs to improve on in his game, but considering he was out for a whole year, the way he has come back has been remarkable really.
“We’re absolutely delighted with the progress he’s making, and we’re just hoping he continues in the same vein and keeps working on the things he needs to work on.
“As a pro and as a boy, he’s been tremendous, and he’s had a great time of it since he got into the team.
“He’s very low maintenance, very much like your [James] Forrests, your [Callum] McGregors, your [Scott] Browns.
“He’s another good Scottish talent in the squad which is always welcome.
“His goal [against Aberdeen] was superb. From the goalkeeper to Callum – who I thought had a great game the other night – and then the finish was magnificent.
“He’s a really good finisher David, and he was unlucky with one in the second half that just sat up for him really.
“He gets himself into good positions, he drifts in there, and he’s a bit different from normal midfield players these days.
“He’s a ‘late-run-into-thebox’ type, and when he’s in there, he finishes like a striker. And technically he’s a very good player.
“He’s had a bit of catching up to do with the season lost, but he’s doing that in a big way this year.
“It augurs well, but whether it’s enough for him to get into the Scotland squad, I can’t answer that.”
Ross County v Celtic
I’m not complaining about it, I’m happy that football’s going ahead
THERE are those among the more seasoned professionals at any club whose nose would be out of joint at a young upstart taking their place in the starting XI, but for all that Shane Duffy’s pride may be bruised right now at Celtic, his treatment of Stephen Welsh has been exemplary.
Welsh was brought straight back into the Celtic line-up at Duffy’s expense in Wednesday night’s win over Aberdeen, having sat out the weekend game against St Johnstone through injury.
Far from throwing a tantrum about being displaced by the 21-year-old, though, Duffy has in fact continued to try and mentor his younger team-mate, even though he himself is going through such a tough time in his own career. It’s an approach that Welsh believes says volumes about his character.
“Shane Duffy is one of the more experienced players in the team,” Welsh said.
“He’s an international player who has played at the highest level and every day he is chatting away about what you can do better and what you are good at. He’s helped me a lot.
“I wouldn’t say we are direct rivals [for a place in the team]. There’s competition in every position, especially at a team like this. Everyone is fighting for their position, so it doesn’t matter who plays every week.
“Shane being an experienced player and me being a younger player, he does his best to help.
“His character unbelievable. think every player goes through a difficult spell and everyone has had it at this club and at different clubs, he’s got the character to come through the other end. There’s no doubt about that.
“That was a big confidence boost [to be restored to the side] after missing a game through injury. The boys won and played well against St Johnstone.
“That’s a few clean sheets now and
I is five wins massive.”
Welsh was hugely impressive along with centre-back partner Kristoffer Ajer as the pair repelled a late aerial bombardment against Aberdeen in midweek, and he says that following the example of Ajer in building up his physicality has helped him be ready for the challenges presented by the Scottish Premiership.
“Kris is a fantastic player – a great defender and good on the ball,” he said.
“With his speed, that gives you a bit more confidence if you make a mistake. He’s in behind to help you. He’s a great defender for us.
“As well as being a footballer, you need to be strong, especially in the Scottish league. Some of the strikers you come up against could be bigger or taller than you, so you need to put in the work in the gym.
“I have done that the past few months which has helped a lot. It’s very physical every game, especially the other night against Aberdeen. That was a very physical game.
“The upper-body stuff helps a lot and, hopefully, it helps when we face other physical teams in the league because everyone has big players. Centre-halves coming up for corners as well.”
Ross County certainly have such physical players in their attacking arsenal, and Welsh (left) is ready for the battle when Celtic travel to Dingwall tomorrow night.
If he and his fellow defenders keep up their end of the bargain at one end, he is certain that the attacking players in the Celtic side will certainly do so at the other.
“You take every game as it comes and every team has their strengths,” he said.
“We need to be to the best of our ability, especially going up there as we know it is going to be a tough game. We need to play the way we have been playing and, hopefully, keep another clean sheet because we have boys who will score us goals.” on the bounce is