THE WINNING mentality of Kasper Schmeichel was highlighted in the Danish legend’s Celtic debut in North Carolina this morning.
The 37-year-old 105 times-capped keeper made his Hoops baptism as he played the first-half of the 4-3 victory over Manchester City.
Schmeichel was replaced at the interval by Finnish international Viljami Sinisalo who arrived in a £1million switch from Aston Villa last week.
The Great Dane has earned the reputation as being a perfectionist and that was illustrated just after the half-hour mark against Pep Guardiola’s Premier champions in the Battle of Britain.
Brendan Rodgers’ men were leading following a superb strike from Nicolas Kuhn when the towering shotstopper was called into action twice to thwart City dangerman Erling Haaland.
It looked as though Schmeichel had completed a hat-trick of quickfire saves when he got down swiftly to his left after the unmarked Oscar Bobb had been afforded a clear sight of goal.
The youngster fired in a low drive that the netminder got a hand to, but he couldn’t prevent the power of the shot spiralling up behind him and floating towards the empty net.
Liam Scales was too late to intervene as the effort sailed in the direction of its target.
Schmeichel’s reaction was typical of the much-decorated No.1. He yelled in anguish as he could not hide his frustration.
It didn’t matter that it was a pre-season match to get the rust out of his team-mates’ limbs.
Schmeichel played in all four of Denmark’s games in Euro 24 and he couldn’t have looked more disappointed if he had just conceded a goal for his nation in the soccer extravaganza in Germany.
Speaking about the qualities of the veteran shotstopper, Brendan Rodgers, as reported in CQN, said: “What we needed after Joe [Hart] leaving was someone at the very highest level who is a competitor and a winner.
“We needed someone who can support and help this young group of players and there’s no-one better than Kasper for that.”
After only 45 minutes in North Carolina this morning, the actions of Schmeichel certainly backed up the words of the manager.
It bodes well for the future of the champions as Rodgers’ men prepare for the final match of the US tour against Chelsea in Indiana on Saturday evening.
And then the real stuff kicks off with the opening Premiership confrontation against Kilmarnock at Parkhead a week on Sunday when the Hoops fans will be given the perfect opportunity to welcome Joe Hart’s successor
