Bringing out the devil inside
McFadden sees much of himself in on-form Parkhead ace Christie
THE technique, the devilment, the change in personality when he enters a football pitch. James McFadden could be forgiven for seeing reflections from his own playing career when he examines Ryan Christie’s qualities.
Certainly, McFadden admires how Christie is making good on his potential with a continuing rise to prominence.
A new Celtic contract yesterday confirmed his progression at club level. Winning a fourth international cap in Saturday’s Nations League meeting with Albania could now follow to underline the 23-year-old’s emergence in the Scotland squad.
As a key part of Alex McLeish’s backroom staff, McFadden will work closely with Christie in the build-up to the crucial assignment in Shkoder. The midfielder’s skill is obvious. But it takes more than gifted feet to thrive at the very top level of the game.
McFadden (below) likes the way Christie’s normally smiling demeanour can occasionally turn to a snarl. That determination to stand up for himself, to earn the right to express his talent, is a vital part of his make-up.
Without it, his long-awaited breakthrough at Parkhead might never have arrived.
‘That’s what you want,’ said McFadden. ‘You need them to have an edge. I think the thing is, he believes he should be there, and that’s great. He’s going to fight to keep his place. Brilliant!
‘I’m delighted for Ryan. He’s a great kid off the pitch and he’s added that wee bit of aggression. I was the world’s worst when I was on the pitch, but couldn’t be bothered when I was off it.
‘That’s just the way I was. That’s what you need, you need a wee bit of devilment. He’s a player who is technical, he’s going to get kicked, people are going to try to ruffle him up. He’s standing up to it and that’s great.’
Christie recently admitted that not making the squad when a much-changed Celtic lost at Tynecastle in August had been something of a crossroads moment. After spending the previous 18 months on loan at Aberdeen, he wondered if his chance to impress Brendan Rodgers had passed.
Yet rather than feel sorry for himself, Christie doubled down on his training ground work. The rewards have been clear. Now an established part of the first-team picture, the Inverness-born player has three goals in his last five appearances for Celtic and was outstanding in the Europa League win over RB Leipzig.
‘He’s made the most of it and fair play to him,’ enthused McFadden. ‘We had him in early squads because we knew how good a player he was and he’s finally got his chance at Celtic.
‘He’s waited a long time for it but he’s taken it. I said after the (Betfred Cup) semi-final against Hearts that he looked like the Ryan Christie who played for Aberdeen — and, by that, I meant he looked comfortable. He looked as if he deserved to be there.
‘I’m glad he’s got his chance because everybody knows I’m a big fan of young Scottish players and I want to see every one of them doing well. It’s great that he’s stuck it out at Celtic and has been getting a lot of praise. That’s great for us as well.
‘I think we need to realise we can produce players who are technical. We have done, over the years, going back to when football started. Ryan is a good Scottish player, a hard worker, great technically. He can score goals from the outside of the box, stepping on to it with his left foot.’
Scotland could do with a bit of off-the-cuff flair to lift their hopes of a Euro 2020 play-off. Saturday’s visit to Shkoder is followed by a must-win game with Israel at Hampden next Tuesday. ‘I think we have a lot of creative players: Callum McGregor, Stuart Armstrong, Gary Mackay-Steven,’ continued McFadden. ‘They are all creative players and that’s what we need — people who are going to be brave and take the opportunity to play the killer pass.
‘It’s not just about the wide areas or guys like that creating. It’s throughout the team. Even in the full-back areas, we have guys who can create.
‘We need a strong base to go and allow these players to create. It’s what the top teams need, guys who can unlock defences and create things. I think we have enough players who can do that. It’s just about giving them the platform.’
Sparks of creative magic were once McFadden’s stock-in-trade with Scotland. His move into coaching has brought a different kind of pressure. Coping with the bitter disappointment of last month’s 2-1 defeat in Israel was not easy. Yet he remains optimistic about the future.
‘When you are on the pitch, you get caught up in the emotion and get very high or very low,’ reflected McFadden. ‘As a coach, you can see it unfolding. It’s hard to deal with.
‘They are a great bunch of lads and you want them to do well. When it doesn’t happen for them, you are disappointed for them.
‘We know the expectation levels. The fans want us to get a major tournament. We do as well. We are desperate for that.
‘It’s different for me now as a coach. It’s probably harder than when I was player. When I’m walking along the street, people want to ask me what’s happening. It’s tough. I’m happy to speak to anyone about it and you can’t hide away from it.
‘At club level, your next game is never too far away. At international level, you have to have a plan in place for a month’s time and hope there are no injuries or whatever. But I’m enjoying it and loving the job.’