Sprint fine keeps Ryan’s feet firmly on the ground
Given the stellar season he is enjoying for club and country, Ryan Christie could be forgiven for feeling pretty good about himself heading into today’s Betfred Cup Final.
Yet, as the Celtic midfielder explained with a grin, any complacency he might have had has been chased away by a combination of lies, damned lies and statistics.
“People might laugh about this, but I actually got fined after Wednesday’s win against Hamilton,” Christie said of a night in which he scored once again to take his season’s goal tally to 16.
“Why? Because our keeper, Fraser Forster recorded a higher top speed than me – sprinting up the pitch to celebrate!
“The ball was barely in the net and he was in my face! I was just thinking, ‘How did he get up here?’.
“His figure for that run was 30.5mph. My best was 30mph, so I have to put into the Christmas fund.
“It was Broony (Scott Brown) who issued me with the fine and, to be honest, I think he would have been slower than the pair of us!”
Christie’s story is relevant in the context of the Final, because it shows how relaxed the 24-yearold is ahead of a game in which Celtic have the chance to win an unprecedented 10th trophy on the trot.
It is the sort of success father Charlie, who also enjoyed a spell at Celtic, could only dream of in his playing days. Yet for Christie Junior, it is just business as usual.
“I’ve noticed in my time at Celtic, and I’m now playing more often, our mind-set is such that we manage to keep out all the outside pressures,” he revealed.
“We have got big pressures on ourselves, big expectations and very high standards at this club.
“But we tend to put them aside to focus on the job in hand. The Final is a big game, but we will treat it like any other.
“I wouldn’t agree that history weighs lightly on us, not really anyway. At the end of last season – the treble Treble – there were a few celebrations after that.
“But that was probably the only time we looked back and thought what a big achievement it was.
“It is the same as the time before. As soon as you come in for pre-season, it is gone. It may seem harsh to say, but it is gone from our heads. We are just looking for future success.
“I think that is the whole mentality for everyone in the changing room. I think that is why we have done so well.
“Everyone is always striving for more success. I don’t think it will be for a few more years, when you have retired, that you look back on this time and realise how successful the last couple of years have been.”
The Scotland internationalist is similarly philosophical about the prospect of an Old Firm showpiece occasion in which the support – for once – will be evenly split, with both teams being roared on by an army of supporters.
“Look, Rangers are by no means a bad team,” said Christie.
“They are a good team, we know that. We can see that by how well they are doing domestically and in Europe, same as us.
“I played alongside Ryan Jack at Aberdeen and thought he was good player there. Since then he has added goals to his game, which is credit to him since he is coming from what is probably a more deep-lying position now.
“But we are up to the challenge of facing good teams. These are the type of games you want to test yourself in.”
While Jack has moved backwards in his role, Christie is pushing ever further forward.
Should Odsonne Edouard fail to prove himself fit for the game, it is not impossible he will be used as a false No. 9 today – a role Scotland manager Steve Clarke is pondering for him, too.
“I would be more than happy to play that role for club and country. It is actually something our gaffer, Neil Lennon, has spoken to me about at times,” Christie said.
“When we played Lazio at home, I went up and joined Edi up front. That was more of a two. I really enjoyed that.
“It would suit my game, the further away from defence the better!
“I played it at the start of last season when I was starting. I came on as a false-nine and enjoyed it. Anywhere across the attacking line I am happy.”