FITTER, FASTER, STRONGER

Champs like us were born to run, declares Celtic defender Lustig

IF it was impossible to argue with Ronny Deila opting to purge Lennoxtown of fizzy drinks and chips right from day one, the Norwegian’s tenure in Glasgow suggested he had some way to go before being considered a leader in the field of fitness and conditioning.

As laudable as many of the former Celtic manager’s ideas were, his promise of producing a dynamic, energetic team simply failed to materialise.

Whether it was a lack of the correct nutrients or an inadequate training schedule, Celtic habitually failed to score many late goals under him and conceded plenty.

The passing of time has confirmed what was long suspected: Deila’s bold words never really took root in reality. Celtic have improved immeasurably in every aspect since he departed.

At Motherwell in December, Brendan Rodgers’ side shrugged off a two-goal deficit to eventually win 4-3. Three of their goals game in the final 20 minutes.

At McDiarmid Park last Sunday, they were 2-1 down at the break but won 5-2. This time three goals came in the final 15 minutes.

Celtic may have been handed the softest of penalties to get back into that game, but their imperious record isn’t down to chance. It’s a potent blend of physicality and psychology.

‘Especially as we were struggling in the first half and losing 2-1, it just proves how strong we are, the way we came back,’ said defender Mikael Lustig.

‘We are very fit. In the last 20 minutes, it seems like they are on their knees and we are just going on and on.

‘It’s not the first time that’s happened. We have scored a lot of goals in the last 20 minutes of games.

‘We feel a lot stronger going into the later stages of games this season. Last season, we were under pressure in most games that we felt we needed to win. That can be hard, both mentally and in your legs.

‘We don’t feel that way now. Now we just see opportunities all the time. The biggest proof of that was in the game at St Johnstone.

‘From the first minute of the second half, we showed we were just going to press them down, get the ball and create chances.’

Lustig’s contribution has already entered folklore. With the game all but done, Rodgers’ men put together a remarkable 25-pass move involving every single player.

It would have been spellbinding stuff in any case. But the Swede’s rabona cross managed to upstage a silky back-heel by Callum McGregor and a finish by Moussa Dembele which brought up a hat-trick.

‘I don’t practise it in training,’ Lustig smiled. ‘It’s something I have tried before but it is going to be a big thing when it is part of a goal.

‘It was just an instinctive thing. It’s not as if I’m thinking of doing it before the game, I’m not that type of player. But I got the ball and it was on my left foot, so I thought: “Why not?”.

‘It was a great goal. Callum’s back-heel was brilliant, as well. We made over 20 passes, with every member of the team touching the ball. Those are the kind of goals you love to see.’

It summed up where Celtic are at right now. Not only are they dominating in Scotland to an extent that any record now seems under threat, their play is embroidered with panache and style.

Some critics might argue that such off-the-cuff moments of skill like Lustig’s are simply rubbing the competition’s noses in it.

‘I would absolutely disagree that it’s disrespectful,’ added the 30-year-old.

‘Of course, if you are standing near the corner flag doing step-overs, then I can buy that. But it was a pass — and a good pass — so I don’t see that it’s disrespectful. I’m not sure I’m going to do it again, but we’ll see.’

It was a moment that would have been incongruous in the Deila era. Despite the sporadic break-out of entertaining football, those two years were largely a grind.

While Celtic may have rarely been away from the top of the table under the Norwegian, the current team do appear to be in a different league.

‘Yes, 100 per cent,’ agreed Lustig. ‘You just look at the signings, Scott Sinclair and Moussa Dembele. They are really good players. Over the last two years, we maybe wouldn’t have gone for those kind of signings.

‘Moussa is here to score goals. He already has 23 for the season — and Scott has also been in great form.’

On the future of Rodgers, Lustig added: ‘He is a Celtic fan. The club means so much to him, so I think you can expect him to be here for at least a couple of years.’

Inverness, of course, are the only club to have laid a glove on Rodgers’ men, a 2-2 draw in the Highlands in September the one blemish on an otherwise flawless domestic record.

That day still jars, which speaks volumes about the ruthless mentality Rodgers has created at the club.

Asked if it is as much a psychological test as a footballing one, Lustig said: ‘Absolutely, but we have been up to those for most of the season.

‘It’s a massive game. If we lose, we are out, so we need to win. Breaking records in the league is great, but we want to win the cup. That is now the main thing.’