HEAT OF THE MOMENT
First season was a breeze for AJ but Canadian reckons Bhoys will stay cool under pressure this time around after buying into Brendan’s blueprint
ALISTAIR JOHNSTON knows Celtic are living in an Old Firm pressure cooker with the heat being turned up on the title race.
But the Hoops defender is convinced the champions have the mentality to handle it as the scrap goes down to the wire.
Johnston made an incredible impact in Glasgow following his arrival from MLS outfit Montreal last January – as he hoovered up a Treble in just five months.
This season has been tougher with the League Cup landing at Ibrox and rivals Rangers bang in the hunt for the Premiership and Scottish Cup.
Johnston also says amid the stress there’s been next to no time for new boss Brendan Rodgers to put his own stamp on the place after Ange Postecoglou’s departure.
The Canada star explained: “It is difficult – because you can feel the pressure. It’s nothing like I experienced in the MLS just because first of all, the rivalry is just a lot deeper.
“Is it different? Just a little! You share the same city so you know when you walk out the door you are going to be loved or hated.
“But at the same time you feel the pressure and you are expected to win. Not only are you expected to win but you are expected to win in a certain way.
“We have felt that a lot this year and that has been difficult.
“There has not been quite as long of that period of grace given when there is a lot of change and a new manager coming in.
“At these clubs there is no time to have that period where you say, ‘OK, things are new but we have time to build’ – it’s not like that at these massive clubs.
“It’s straight in, the pressure is there right from the get-go. The expectations are there so dealing with that it takes a big personality.
“That is what I have found at that level – you need to have a level of mental fortitude, perseverance and resilience because not every day is going to be as great as it seems to the outside world.”
Johnston insisted the Celtic squad have bought into the new style of management under
It’s inspiring to see how our captain leads. It’s different to everything I’ve seen before alistair Johnston praises calmac
Rodgers. But he hailed the role of skipper Callum McGregor for helping the side stay on course. Johnston – speaking to One Soccer in his homeland – said: “You have to have complete buy in. If you believe in the system, the players are pulling in the one direction and everyone truly understands their role, that’s when you get the best out of players. “Sometimes when there’s confusion, whether that is the coach’s fault or the player not understanding, that’s when you can have some difficulties. “What I’ve seen at these top teams is that having a direct plan, where players know exactly what’s expected of them on and off the pitch, makes it very simple. At the same time, also having leaders within the team that hold everyone accountable.
“I’m lucky enough at Celtic to have played with some big names, of course Joe Hart,
Callum McGregor – our captain – it’s really inspiring just to see how he leads. It’s different to everything I’ve ever seen before. “He kind of falls into that category of someone who walks in a room, there’s kind of a different feel instantly, the air kind of changes, there’s just an aura to him. “That’s something that can’t be forced. It’s got to be genuine and when you get to that level you realise there are really only a handful of those kinds of guys in world football. “That’s what I’ve found – when playing at the high level where the pressure is just so demanding week-in, weekvery out – you need to know exactly what you’re doing and limit the variables as much as possible.
“Let guys stick to a very coordinated plan that everyone believes in. If you do that you can really just block out a lot of that noise and just focus on the football.”
Johnston revealed he’s barely had time to get his head around his whirlwind first 15 months at Parkhead.
He said: “At the end of last year I took about a week and though, ‘Wow, you’ve just win a Treble’.
“That’s not something a lot of people can say, even in the storied history of Celtic.
“But you don’t get long because you are always into the next match, there’s always the next trophy.
“That’s what keeps guys like myself hungry. There’s always something bigger and better.”