Celtic spirit brings plenty to the party for Strachan
GORDON STRACHAN recognises his observations could be perceived as a slight against a previous Celtic regime. Yet they simply detail an inescapable and delightful truth for Scotland. Half of the national coach’s first-choice team, six of his most influential players, are so much faster and fitter in both mind and body this season thanks to playing for Celtic under Brendan Rodgers.
Strachan has been unable to avoid the enormous difference in each of his Celtic selections as the season has progressed towards undefeated league champion status.
From the dismal double-header in October when Kieran Tierney’s appearance in the 3-0 defeat in Trnava was the only starting contribution by a Celtic player against Lithuania and Slovakia.
To when he saw it in the first Monday morning training session at Mar Hall in March. And to when he loved it when Stuart Armstrong sprang from midfield to set up a Hampden winner in 88 minutes against Slovenia.
A sextet who began on Tuesday, July 12 in such ignominious circumstances in Gibraltar are robustly ready for Saturday, June 10 and England at Hampden thanks to their campaign.
Armstrong, James Forrest, Scott Brown, Tierney, Leigh Griffiths and Craig Gordon are bringing relentless fitness levels from club to country along with their winning mood.
Strachan fully intends to capitalise on the rude health of Celtic’s players against England. When asked if he had detected a difference in the Celtic boys compared to last year, he said: ‘Absolutely, yes. When asked the question, I have to say that. It’s very hard on Ronny (Deila) and his background staff that went before. But that is fact. We have seen it in front of our very eyes.
‘Fitness allows you to do things: press, keep the ball. Celtic’s whole season has set examples that, if you’re fit, if you’re organised and have good players, you can achieve most things.’
Take Armstrong. There are English top-flight clubs that might well fancy doing so. The 25-year-old only made his full senior debut in March in that Slovenia victory.
Now Strachan would not contemplate a midfield without an energy and drive that can grind opponents into the turf late in games.
‘What Stuart Armstrong does, the way he beats people, is all down to his fitness,’ said Strachan (below, right). ‘His fitness in the last five minutes allowed him to beat two people and put a pass in.
‘I’ve seen it many a time, players in that position, they lose the ball because they’re tired. Or the final pass goes astray. People think “unlucky”. But it’s not unlucky.
‘It was just because the player wasn’t fit enough. I say it to players all the time — physical fitness helps you with the mental strength. And Stuart knows that now.
‘He seriously runs players in his area to a standstill — and they just end up feeling they’ve had enough. He knows that. And it’s a hell of a weapon to know that.
‘It’s a real negative if you’re playing against him. You’re left thinking: “I’m not as fit as this fella.”
‘Stuart is basically telling them: “I’m going to run you, I’m going to run 40 yards, I’m going to pick it up, then I’m going to run you again — how do you like that?”
‘When we were naming squads last September there wasn’t a clamour for him. People weren’t asking: “Why’s he not in?” But since then he’s been terrific. ‘He has always had that technique, it is adding that extra all-round fitness that makes you a better player. He’s no longer leaving footprints, he just flies about the pitch.’
Strachan claimed he had never seen a better debut in international football than Armstrong against Slovenia. It is to be hoped he insists he’s scarcely witnessed a better comeback to the national team stage than Armstrong’s skipper Scott Brown by the end of World Cup qualifying. Brown believed he might have two years left at the top with Celtic when he first met new club boss Rodgers at the manager’s London home last summer. Now he knows he has at least four. That’s no surprise to Strachan, who saw Gary McAllister grow more adept at handling the rigours of the game as he grew older because of fitness. ‘I keep telling everyone, 30 is not old, 31 is not old,’ he said. ‘I keep using Gary as an example. He was fitter at 35 than at 25. ‘You have got to say to yourself: “If I really want to be a world-class player, I have got to do this” — and that is what Gary did. His technique never got any better. He got stronger and fitter. ‘That dynamism is a good weapon for our team. And also we get it from (Andrew) Robertson and (Ryan) Fraser. You need that and you need to push yourself to another level. ‘My advice to a kid of 19, 20 — if the fitness coach says what your heart rate is, then go and make it even better. ‘Push it, push yourself further than anyone else in the squad. Defy them, be better than them. ‘Take that Celtic approach, get your fitness level and you can do a lot more. The Celtic mentality can hopefully rub off.’