Leigh’s pride has set him up for ‘the biggest game of my career’
Leigh Griffiths is bursting with pride.
He’s proud of the way he tackled the shortcomings in his fitness and established himself as a top international footballer.
But, as he prepares for the biggest game of his career, the Celtic striker is very aware that pride comes before a fall.
Scotland have won three World Cup qualifying ties in a row, and hopes of making it to Russia 2018 have been reborn.
However, the dream will die unless Gordon Strachan’s men win in Slovenia tonight and secure a play-off spot.
Griffiths said: “I’m proud of myself and my family are proud of me. But it matters for nothing if we don’t get to the play-offs.
“I think after the England game at Wembley, everyone had written us off.
“We’ve turned it right round and are now just one game away.
“We have to put in another massive performance to get the win, but we are capable of beating them.
“Yeah, it’s probably the biggest game of my career.
“It’s not just us we are playing for – there are five million out there.
“We sent a lot of folk home happy from Hampden on Thursday night, but it counts for nothing if we don’t do the job in Slovenia.”
The upturn in the fortunes of the Scotland side has been mirrored by Griffiths establishing himself as the country’s No. 1 striker.
Less than a year ago, he was a peripheral figure for club and country.
There were doubts about his ability to compete at the top level and persistent fitness issues appeared to be putting his long-term future at Celtic in jeopardy.
Now he’s one of the first names on the team sheet for Brendan Rodgers and Gordon Strachan. Griffiths went on: “It’s down to hard work. “There were a lot of times last season where I felt down on myself by not playing for Celtic.
“Moussa Dembele was there and I was injured. It was frustrating.
“But I was working hard behind the scenes. Every day I was doing my rehab stuff to keep myself fit.
“I’m working hard every day with the manager at Celtic and it’s paying off.
“I’m lasting 90 minutes now when before I’d only get 60. Hopefully, that’s my calf injury problems behind me.
“I’m still wary of it, but I just want to get through it and help the team as much as I can.”
Griffiths will forever be remembered for the two magnificent free-kicks he scored against England in the summer.
He didn’t hit the net against Slovakia the other night, but played a vital role in the build-up to the late winner.
The 27-year-old believes his part in the goal is an example of his growing maturity.
He said: “At club level, the manager wants you to come into those little spaces and get in on the half turn. “Being more unselfish comes with age. “It used to always be about trying to score myself. I look at the bigger picture now.
“It’s not just about yourself. You need to help the team. If I can have a helping hand in getting the team goals, then that’s what it’s all about.
“We need to all push in the one direction.
“Earlier in the campaign, the manager was getting a lot of stick from folk but he stuck at it.
“He doesn’t let it get to him. He just concentrates on his job and working with the players.
“He’s said he loves working with us and you’ve seen in the last four or five performances that we’ve done well.
“That’s the good thing about him. He doesn’t do what everyone wants him to do – he does what he wants.
“You have to give him massive credit for that. Everyone will go and pat him on the back if we get the win in Slovenia.”