Amoo in awe of the champions as he refuses to rule out unbeaten campaign
DAVID AMOO thought it was tough playing against the Premiership champions last season — but the Partick Thistle winger admits Celtic have moved on to a new level under Brendan Rodgers.
Thistle were defeated 4-1 as Rodgers’ team extended their unbeaten league run to 14 games on Friday and Amoo admits it is conceivable that they will complete the campaign without losing a single fixture.
And, with the rest of the top flight struggling to keep pace, he believes the greatest barrier to an unblemished season will come from within.
‘Celtic still have some tough games to play but it’s possible they could go through the whole season unbeaten,’ stated Amoo. ‘It’s up to them. If they play the best they want to play, they can.
‘They’re on a different level to anyone else in Scotland — no other team is as good.
‘If they play with the right intensity and don’t get complacent, they could do it.
‘They’ll take a bit of stopping. We played against them three times last season and they’re so much better now. They move the ball quicker and they are deadly in front of goal.
‘They are comfortably better than any team we’ve played this season. They press so well off the ball and you don’t get any second chances.’
Amoo kicked off his career at Liverpool, departing just before Rodgers’ arrival at Anfield in 2012.
Now 25, he is in his second season at Thistle and believes it is incumbent on every team in the Premiership to try to get closer to the league leaders.
‘It must be easy for Celtic,’ he continued.
‘But other teams have to try and bridge the gap. We need to step it up and compete. It’s not Celtic’s fault — they just turn up and do what they have to do.
‘It’s up to the rest of the league to catch up. Or at least find ways to make it harder for them.’
That particular task will again fall to Thistle on Tuesday week when they visit Parkhead as part of a congested festive fixture schedule.
Friday’s defeat left Thistle joint bottom of the table alongside Inverness CT and the task of piecing together a run that will stave off fears of relegation is not about to get easier.
‘We have to learn from Friday night,’ added Amoo. ‘We have to be better on the ball at Parkhead. Going to Celtic is a different challenge but we play better away from home, so you never know.
‘Motherwell showed there might be a vulnerability there last weekend. Ultimately Celtic still found a way to win there, too but they’re not invincible.’
Midfielder Stuart Armstrong, who scored twice on Friday night, epitomises the relentless drive of Rodgers’ team.
The 24-year-old has emerged as a key man and believes that not only is he playing better than ever but is also fitter.
Worryingly for Amoo and the rest, he signals that even with the Champions League over, Celtic are not inclined to ease up domestically.
Armstrong said: ‘We are working hard and have played a lot of games but there’s a lot of pressing, a high tempo, and that’s the way the manger wants to play.
‘Whether it’s Man City or Partick, we play the same with the same tempo. It is hard work but rewarding.
‘It’s always nice to score goals. That’s what I wanted to do this season — add a side to my game which I had before but hadn’t really brought to Celtic.’