I’M YOUR NO.1 FAN PAL
Saints mate Mo insists Forster is one of best he’s seen
It wasn’t my best game .. If I could go back in time I probably wouldn’t have played
Mohamed Elyounoussi isn’t surprised to see Fraser Forster take Scottish football by storm.
The Hoops pair are both on loan from Southampton and formed a close bond last season as they struggled to get first-team action at St Mary’s.
As their Saints team-mates traded blows with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool, Elyounoussi was left in awe of the shot-stopper’s dedication in the gym and on the training field.
The Norwegian winger couldn’t fathom why Forster was third choice at Southampton and knew he had much more to offer.
It was no surprise to Elyounoussi that his pal turned in a blinding performance to deny rivals Rangers last Sunday as Celtic lifted the Betfred Cup again.
He said: “Fraser was amazing. He was the reason we won the cup.
“If we had played 120 minutes, I don’t think Rangers would have scored. He was a wall for us at the back.
“I can’t answer why he was third-choice goalkeeper at Saints. You’d need to ask either him or someone down there.
“I’ve said before that he’s one of the best keepers I have ever played with. He has backed that up.
“We did a lot of extra work together on the training field and in the gym at Southampton.
“I got to know him really well through that and I’m delighted that he has done so well since coming back.
“Fraser is great at saving penalties. Obviously I always score against him in training though!
“He has so much confidence as well as his stature. I wasn’t surprised to see him save Alfredo Morelos’ effort.
“Everyone knew what Fraser could do. He was so professional when he wasn’t playing at Southampton and didn’t let his head drop.”
As he watched on in awe at Forster’s Hampden performance, the former Basel man couldn’t help but be irritated by his own poor showing.
The 25-year-old was rushed back from a six-week spell on the sidelines with a groin injury.
After being hooked at half-time, he admits the Old Firm clash perhaps came around too soon for him.
Elyounoussi, rested along with
Forster as Celtic ended their Europa League group campaign with a loss in Cluj on Thursday, said: “You could see yourself that it wasn’t my best game. If I could go back in time I probably wouldn’t have played.
“I felt this was a big game I couldn’t miss and I was targeting it for my return to full health.
“Fitness wise, it wasn’t an issue. But I haven’t touched the ball for weeks.
“I wasn’t sat i sf ied with my performance and the boys know that. But I’ll come back stronger.
“Now I’m not thinking about it at all. I’m so pleased that the boys won the trophy.”
The Hoops have won the last 10 domestic trophies and could go a long way towards securing nine titles in a row when they next face Rangers on December 29.
Elyounoussi insists his Hoops team-mates will go into the festive crunch full of confidence after last Sunday’s dogged victory.
He added: “When we meet them again we’ l l destroy them.
“We grew into the game in the second half.
“There are more titles to win this season so we need to refocus.
“Our success is a result of hard work in training and we’re hungry for more.
“Rangers were strong on Sunday and you could see they were on the front foot. I’ll try and be fitter for the Old Firm on December 29.”29.