Sviatchenko wants to be Invincible

Sviatchenko admits unbeaten tag is an incentive, but there’s still a long way to go

THE jousts against Europe’s finest, those games that stretch every fibre of physical and mental fortitude, are over for this season. Only the more prosaic business of domestic competition remains. Erik Sviatchenko is adamant, however, that Celtic’s dominance in that arena does not mean any diminishment of their motivational drive.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have taken 37 Premiership points from the first 39 available. Tonight’s visit to face Partick Thistle at Firhill offers the chance to extend their unbeaten league sequence to 14 games.

Such has been their superiority that some have speculated on whether history could be made by Celtic traversing the entire 38-match campaign without sampling defeat.

Rodgers has already poured cold water on that idea, believing it highly unlikely. Sviatchenko, though, sees nothing wrong in using the possibility to try to spur the team towards even greater heights this season.

The Danish centre-half insists it is not something he believes to be probable. Nor are the Parkhead players about to get hung up on it. But maintaining their near-perfect record provides an obvious source of pride.

‘It is always nice to have a goal in some way,’ said Sviatchenko, when the prospect of becoming Scotland’s Invincibles was raised.

‘Whether it is achievable or not, it is nice to say it out loud sometimes that it would be good if it happened. Should we lose a game, which is obviously quite natural sometimes, then it is just about how we bounce back and how we move on.

‘Against Motherwell last week, people would think: “Okay, this is the game they are going to lose” as we were 2-0 down. But we kept working and kept working, knowing we will create chances because our players are good enough.

‘It would be nice if we got through the season unbeaten. But it is a long season, a lot of games. And probably there will be a game (where Celtic slip up). But, as a defender, you always hope to be unbeaten.’

Victory over Thistle this evening would move the Parkhead club 11 points clear of Rangers — with two games still in hand.

Their coronation for a sixth successive season is now almost regarded as a foregone conclusion. Indeed, after being on the wrong side of last weekend’s dramatic 4-3 comeback victory, Motherwell captain Stephen McManus declared the title race already over.

‘I wouldn’t say so,’ countered Sviatchenko. ‘It’s about being relentless and keeping going on. If you want to go from good to great at some point, then you have to do something extra. It’s about everyone doing something to be better than before.’

Talk of learning and developing frequently echoes out of Celtic’s Lennoxtown training ground. In one way, Sviatchenko could be considered a star pupil of this Rodgers-headed school.

His manager recently praised him for his homework, where he analyses the specifics of each and every performance, poring over video clips to see what he could have done better.

As a pretty cerebral character anyway, such an approach comes naturally to Sviatchenko. But he feels a similar hunger for knowledge and betterment, individually and collectively, is shared throughout the entire squad.

Rodgers has already issued a strong warning about not tolerating even a shred of complacency. Sviatchenko is confident that trait won’t arise.

‘Not at all,’ he insisted. ‘If there was, then you shouldn’t be playing football. It’s all about improving.

‘The good thing about this squad is that everyone wants to improve and be better, so we can be even more dominant.

‘The analysis is something I have done since I was about 15. It is a good thing to go through a game and put it out of your thoughts. It helps you going to the next game — what can you do better?

‘For instance, I couldn’t sleep after the Manchester City game on Tuesday evening because of the adrenaline that was pumping. So I used the time to go through the game.

‘There were some things I thought I could have done better and then, later, I work with Chris Davies (Celtic assistant manager).

‘He has a take on it as well. He will say: “Could you have been squeezing up? Or did you do the right thing to stay back, because there was a runner at your back?”

‘You have to know these things in the game. You take in all this information and become a better player. That is how it works.

‘We have a thing called InStats, where you can see all your clips. Stevie, our analysis guy, gives me the game. I go through it minute by minute and sometimes write down some small text, something like “good pass” or “could have been a better pass”. Things like that. It is something that helps me improve.’

Sviatchenko has appeared leaner and sharper than he did last season under Ronny Deila’s management.

Asked if his analysis had reflected that, he replied: ‘Yes, I think in the sense of how the manager wants to play that is where I really want to improve.

‘You take a decision based upon something you see in the game but you also have to know how Jozo (Simunovic) will react, or Emilio (Izaguirre) or Broony (Scott Brown). It is about all working together. That is why I also look at how I work with the other guys, because it is all about the collective

‘I agree that I feel fit. I think that is because I have been playing so many games. It is nice to be in good shape but I still think I can improve and I know that is the main thing.

‘I know the manager wants me to be even better and do things 100 per cent sometimes, rather than 90 per cent.

‘Although I always try to do things 100 per cent, it is about the power and the attitude you show.’