Johnston’s Al in for life at Hoops after strong start
CELTIC star Alistair Johnston has labelled the past couple of months as “insanity” as he looked back over his remarkable start to life with the Hoops.
The Canadian international has become a key player since being plunged in to make his debut in January’s Old Firm clash.
And Johnston has admitted he’s loved his whirlwind start in an interview with Canadian TV.
He said: “These past couple of months have just been insanity.
“I had a week off after the World Cup, went to Glasgow, met the guys and before you know it you’re thrown into an Old Firm match at Ibrox – the home of our most hated rivals.
“So that was pretty special, but at the same time it was cool that my manager pulled me aside the day before and told me that I had just played in the World Cup and I was more than ready for this.
“He told me it wouldn’t faze me and these are the types of games that you live for.
“Even the night before there were fans lined up outside our hotel all night long and cheering us as we drove off in the morning.
“I could just sense that it was something bigger than football. I looked around and said ‘right, this is Scottish football, let’s go.’”
And the former Montreal defender admits he’s still getting used to the 24/7 football obsession in Glasgow.
He explained: “I’ve gone from a league like the MLS where they want all the teams to be as close as possible so everyone thinks they can win the MLS Cup.
“Then you go to a league like this where it’s been dominated by Celtic and to a degree, Rangers.
“In Montreal, I could walk through the city.
“But here, even before I had kicked a ball, I’d go downtown and have a cap pulled down low with a sweater on yet I still got people coming up to me welcoming me to the biggest club in the world.”