LEAVING ON A HIGH NOTE
Roberts looks to exit Parkhead as a history maker and vows to come back as a fan
AND SO this is farewell. But not goodbye. While Patrick Roberts hopes to exit Celtic on a historic high at Hampden this afternoon, he admits the club will never truly leave him.
A two-and-a-half-year loan from Manchester City has cemented their colours in his affections. Roberts will always remain a supporter, popping up at games here or there. And he doesn’t rule out the possibility of returning as a player somewhere along the timeline of his career.
His next step, however, will be to pursue other ambitions. Striving to make it in the English Premier League is an obvious aim for a talent who cost City around £12million when he moved from Fulham in 2015.
Not that the Etihad has housed much of his development. He was only there for six months before Glasgow became a second home. First under Ronny Deila, then more productively with Brendan Rodgers, Celtic have provided a nurturing environment that Roberts credits with instilling maturity and a winning mentality. The injury issues that have blighted this season have not diluted his gratitude.
Victory over Motherwell in today’s Scottish Cup final would now ensure the 21-year-old winger is remembered as part of the squad which achieved back-toback Trebles. It would seem a pretty perfect way to part.
‘I’ve always said you never know what might happen in football,’ said Roberts. ‘It’s never goodbye but I’ll always be a fan and will always come to games, even if I’m not here.
‘I could end up back here in a few years and if so, then great. But you’ve got to live for the moment and carry on life as it is.
‘I’ve all sorts of ambitions and dreams I want to achieve and put in place. It’s not just in the Premier League.
‘But being here has been a dream. You don’t quite know the feeling of playing here until you come. From start to finish, it’s been unbelievable.
‘I’ve grown up a lot. I came at 18, I’d only played a few games at Fulham then went to Man City and didn’t play there.
‘Coming here was my first big opportunity in senior football. You grow up quite quickly with the physicality of the league and players. I’ve grown up as a person as well. It’s brought me on a lot in my game and I’m thankful for that. ‘I want to leave on a high and get the trophy. If we do it, it’ll probably be one of the most important aspects of my career. ‘Hopefully, I’ve got a long way ahead of me but being here will be one of the highlights. It’s been a huge honour.’ Although he has never joined Celtic on a permanent basis, Roberts has spent longer at the club than past heroes such as Paolo Di Canio or Jorge Cadete. He has grasped what it takes to be successful. The joy of last season’s Invincible clean sweep made him push City into granting him another season in Glasgow. Ambitions were high. But then came the hamstring problems that sidelined him between November and March. ‘I enjoyed it and that’s why I came back,’ said Roberts. ‘I thought I had unfinished business. ‘Unfortunately, it’s not panned out the way I’d hoped but being here has been a huge honour and I’ve enjoyed pulling on the shirt. ‘You can’t choose when you get injured, so you stay positive and mentally strong, then come back and try to stay fit, which I’ve done so far. ‘It’s tough. There is a big squad and you want to play but it’s not always the case. It’s a team game and you do whatever is best for the team. I’ll keep enjoying it until the last second.’ But what then? Does Roberts believe he can force his way into a City squad that has just ransacked the English Premier League with record-breaking attacking success? ‘I have aims in my head that I can climb Mount Everest but I don’t know if I’m going to do it or not,’ smiled the Kingston upon Thames-born player, under contract in Manchester until 2020.
‘I’ll have dreams and objectives, but it’s about me putting them into place. Hopefully, my career will pan out the way I want it to.
‘Wherever I play, I just enjoy it. In the summer, I’ll go back (to City) and see what happens.’
Aside from injuries, James Forrest’s outstanding form has been another reason why Roberts has been less productive this term.
The 26-year-old Scotland winger will be aiming for a 16th medal of his Celtic career this afternoon — facing the same opponent against whom his Parkhead story started. On May 1, 2010, a teenage Forrest stepped off the bench to score a debut goal in a 4-0 league victory over Motherwell.
‘It was 2-0 when I came on for Aiden McGeady in the last ten or 15 minutes,’ recalled Forrest, who has played more than 60 matches for club and country this season.
‘It might even have been my first touch. I didn’t think too much about it at the time but now, looking back, I realise what it meant to score on my debut.
‘It’s incredible that I’ve gone on to win so many medals and it’s nice to hear that I’m one of the most-decorated players at the club.
‘It shows you are doing things right and for me to be at a club like this for so long is a positive.
‘I will think about all that after my career but for now I just want to win as many games and trophies as I can.’