Brendan, how’s the squad looking? What’s the latest on Cameron Carter-Vickers?
Tomorrow is Cameron’s loss; that makes a catchy headline! We only need to keep an eye on that every game because he will be absent tomorrow due to a problem in his big toe. He’s been playing about with it for a little, but because he hurt himself during the game in Bratislava, we need to try to control it now. So maybe it will calm down pretty fast, and we’ll see how it is on Tuesday.
How self-assured do you feel? Is Tuesday not going to be a problem? Do you think he has a decent chance? Hard to tell?
It’s hard to say right now since he’s focusing solely on this game. After this, we’ll see how he’s doing on Sunday and Monday.
Is Alistair Johnston fully healthy and ready to go now that he is back in training?
Yes, it’s really good. We were able to get one or two of the players who were experiencing minor niggles before the game back, and the Falkirk game allowed other players to enter the game. However, he has been training well all week.
You’re used to it, as are the players who have played this position frequently, to sort of focusing on the next task rather than the Champions League. Is that part of the message intended to be ingrained in new players as well? Is that even remotely difficult?
It’s not difficult. These, in my opinion, are perspective games that depend on how you view them. It’s really simple for the other players and me. We want to win the next game because it’s the next one. Being a manager and a player for Celtics is always challenging. Though we think the Champions League is great, in the end, this is the mainstay that gets you there. Thus, this game is incredibly, really essential to us, and our only true attention right now is on it.
Getting Auston Trusty and Stephen Welsh some playing time—was that pretty good? Given that Cameron is not playing this weekend, last weekend was a great chance for a few of those players.
I was well aware of that, but we thought that was the case and that it would never be as flexible as the team had been up to that time. I wanted to accept the risk there because I was aware of it. I was unable to find fault with the players for it. Their players that joined the team received some playing time and they had a wonderful attitude. That will come in handy for us during the season, I’m sure.
Is it sometimes more difficult to predict what lies ahead when playing for a team without a regular manager?
No, I believe that elite athletes will always strive to perform to the best of their abilities. It’s unfortunate that Craig (Levein), a very capable manager, is no longer there. The folks that are now there, Andy Kirk, are undoubtedly holding down the fort, and they’ll have the team primed and ready for the match. It goes without saying that having a manager in place helps you better understand the philosophy and football concepts. I continue to believe that we can understand how they operate by observing how they play and have performed. For us, it’s all about us, bringing our own rhythm to the game and giving St Johnstone a really hard time.
How happy were you to see Elena’s (Sadiku) team advance to the Champions League group stages? Additionally, how beneficial is it for the club as a whole to have both the women’s team and you competing in Europe’s premier competition?
I’m overjoyed. You can see, in my opinion, how far Elena has come both with her team and the players. It has been wonderful beyond measure. I’ve watched the draw to gain the privilege to play in the Champions League. They have fantastic games all around, and they have an incredible season ahead of them.
Employing Carter-Vickers Should we wait and see whether this problem goes away on its own, or is it something more serious that could need more extensive treatment?
No, that isn’t the case. It’s merely the ability to endure suffering. It didn’t seem to be getting better, even though I believe he had been through and pushed through a lot. There were indications of it. He was truly in too much agony with it, but I don’t think it was getting worse. He’s a formidable figure. We simply believed that he would be alright as it is clearly one of those cases where, given time, it will self-correct.
Isn’t timing the most important factor?
Every game has significance. There comes a time when I could just sense that he wasn’t quite where I would want him to be, or where he would want to be. At that moment, you should remove him and give him time to heal.
Would you be hesitant to play your entire squad before the Dortmund match, or is this the time you want to play your entire squad before a match like that?
As I have stated, it’s a matter of perception, and from my point of view, we must prevail. To win the game, we’ll field the best team we can muster. To put it best, I would say that it is a team. I refer to every player as my team. We’ll choose our starting eleven before the match. Certainly, it won’t be the eleventh player to finish it. In order to prepare, heal, and be ready for Tuesday, it is imperative that we win the game, win it well, and win it the way we want to.
Tomorrow, you won’t be taking on your former captain, Scott Brown. What does he think of having his name included in the running for the St Johnstone job and then having it removed? Did you discuss it with him at all? What did you think of it?
Scott, along with Steven Whittaker and his team, are performing exceptionally well at Ayr. Clearly, since Ayr joined them last season, they have helped him get into a pretty fantastic position. Scott, in my opinion, is not in a rush. He will be an incredibly successful manager, I’m sure of it. He clearly kept them going into Ayr last year and had a fantastic preseason. It was evident to me in the preseason. Even though they were playing a few weeks ahead of us, I could see the concepts they were attempting to apply.
They’ve had an incredible start to the season. For Scott, joining the correct club is more important than choosing a club for his next move. I’ve always believed that joining the correct club is crucial, particularly for rookie managers. But not if you’re in a decent club already. He’s happy and with a fantastic club. Not that I was shocked that he declined, but I am not shocked that his name is associated with it.
I guess when you’re a young manager it’s about balancing ambition and it feels like you might want to make a move with making sure it is the right move.
I was undoubtedly guilty of it when I was younger. You’re rushing. Since the Premier League is the toughest and most competitive league in the world, I was eager to get there as a rookie manager. However, it is obvious that you may view it much more clearly when you can take a step back and gain more knowledge, experience, and information. Ambition is crucial, in my opinion. It seems essential to have that. However, the goals might also be for you, the people you work with, and the club you belong to. I simply think he’s in a great place right now.
There’s no question in my mind that he’ll perform at the best level. Time and the correct moment are everything. I have the utmost faith that he will succeed. However, being a captain is not at all like being a manager or coach at the greatest level. Naturally, such leadership abilities will be very beneficial to you. There are no short cuts, though. To become an elite coach or manager, one must be patient, learn from mistakes, and seek out relevant experiences. Right now, I see him doing that really, really well.
Did you see Scott as a potential manager when you first arrived at Celtic or not until you left?
I didn’t know him when I initially got here. All I could see on the television, where I used to watch and view, was this snarling person. Then, at our initial meeting, I discovered that he was completely different. We had an incredibly great relationship during our time here, which is something you need to have between your manager and captain. Being together is crucial since there were a lot of problems at Celtic that year. I was certain of his extraordinary leadership abilities. I simply thought that was something he could definitely achieve if he wanted to.
At Fleetwood, he had his first taste of it. He had shown great bravery by leaving Scotland and entering England’s lower leagues. Because finding and understanding an apprenticeship as a manager is crucial, he accepted the challenge. The trade must be learned by you. He has evidently returned to this place and has so far performed incredibly well. He sounds and feels as like he is in a joyful place. I’m fairly certain he will be connected to jobs. quantity of employment in the future. There’s no rush, though. Simply take your time and do a good job.
Do you see anyone in your current squad now that you think is going to be a future manager?
I consider athletes such as Callum McGregor. If Callum wants to be a manager in the future, I believe he can. The huge what-if is this. I consider managing, coaching, and playing to be three completely separate disciplines. As a coach, you collaborate with the players and offer your thoughts. Decisions are made throughout management. The setup is completely different. I glance at the boys I currently have. Some of the great guys I have here could wish to pursue that path on their own. However, becoming the manager doesn’t always come naturally to those that stand out.
Many players would no doubt tell you that they would have assumed someone would become a manager and that person would have gone on to achieve incredible success. I would view starting as a jumping off point and believe that he exhibits many of the qualities you would need to manage and coach if he decides to pursue that path when the time is right.
Was Scott quite receptive to the advice you gave him?
I’m not sure. It’s a dialogue, and all I ever do is suggest. If someone asked for guidance, I would never advise them what to do. It’s merely advice and an appreciation of his current situation. He is aware of his own thoughts. He is aware that he can get in touch with a few folks to receive an alternative viewpoint.
At some point do you expect to face him in the opposition dugout?
Most likely. That is his trajectory. We might as well if I’m still here and still want it. It has happened to me previously.
On Tuesday, I faced Nuri Sahin, who I had at Liverpool when he was a young player on loan from Real Madrid. Everything happens so swiftly when it does. That’s how the game works. As far as I’m aware, Scott is doing incredibly well. He and his employees. It’s been a great club for him.
Having met the proprietor and observed their efforts, we were there in the summer when we performed there. He’s in a really nice place, I believe. It will not be long before he is managing at the highest level in Scotland, in my opinion. It’s just a matter of time, whether that’s with Ayr or someone else.
It’s a very tight turnaround from Saturday night to Tuesday night travelling as well. Is that a frustration, a concern? Is there anything that could have been done to alleviate that – in terms of moving fixtures?
I believe that is a source of irritation for all British teams. Borussia Dortmund plays Bochum on Friday, so they can move the game that day. I’ll see them play tonight. They have three whole days to get ready for both the home game and our game. We’re not expected to be home from the game tomorrow until after late. After that, the trip time is quite short, and you may start playing the game. For most British teams, I believe.
Everything seems to be more important than the game and preparation, including the TV and the slots. We are not the only team, though. Others who have witnessed it for a lot of years have experienced that. The guys from Europe will have their spots, and they will come to agreements to support their teams in getting ready as much as possible.
We saw the same broadcaster show Motherwell versus Dundee United last Friday night. It was a very successful turnout of fans as well. Is that something we should look at for the weekend?
Yes, I believe that would work nicely if there was a Friday night session. A great way to start the weekend is with a Friday night game. Naturally, though, it’s with television and all of that.
Is there any flexibility at all up here in terms of moving fixtures? Do you find that you’re at a brick wall any time you’ve been requesting that?
It needs to go beyond the clubs, in my opinion. In my opinion, a framework involving the federations and, naturally, a connection to television is necessary. To be fair, I believe that more Friday night TV slots are available in Germany for their games, so they can request that, which allows them to recoup more. That might be in the future, but I have to admit that it has been going on for years. I’ve witnessed it firsthand over many years when attending the Premier League. That occasionally takes precedence over the players’ preparation and well-being.
At St Johnstone last season you had a go at the players at half-time. I’m thinking about your previous spell. That was a goal you scored up there. That was one of your favourite team goals?
Indeed. First of all, I believe that when I arrived there the previous year, we were clearly not in agreement. However, it is my responsibility as the manager to make sure that we were and that our standards exceeded that. After examining the second half of the response, I consider the current situation a year later. We are in a very different environment. The team has moved in the direction that I had intended. playing with teamwork, physicality, technical skill, intent, coordination, and hunger. Compared to that first-half showing from last season, it’s like night and day.
We’ve done quite good up there since I started attending St Johnstone. Going there has always been enjoyable, but only because of the supporters. We scored some amazing goals, such as the one you stated. James Forrest, in my opinion, scored four goals in the first half of the match, which was a remarkable feat for a player. You have to put in a lot of effort in all of that. You don’t just suddenly get it. Throughout the preseason and into the season, our motto has been, in my opinion, to make the opposition team’s job extremely tough by our talent, organization, and attitude.
An opponent may find the game challenging if we are able to demonstrate all of those elements and include them into the gameplay. That’s once more our goal. The objectives you listed were excellent objectives, and there were some really good ones that day.
Brendan, Craig and Steven have just lost their job within a few days. Do you have much of a grace period?
No, I think that’s unfortunate. Craig is a very seasoned manager who has performed a variety of jobs and comes and goes in the media. It won’t come as a surprise to him. No matter how good you might be doing, if an owner decides one morning that you shouldn’t be the manager, you could be fired. That is all there is to it. You have to just try your hardest. Steven always had empathy for a management and a coach in his first employment. It’s the kind of event from which he will return having learned something. He was an excellent player.
Steven had a great career in the game before transitioning to starring roles and coaching. He’ll take a look at it and identify the areas where he can grow and improve. He’ll undoubtedly return to his next job as a more capable boss. That’s what it takes sometimes. When it happens, it’s not pleasant, but the key is to bounce back and take knowledge from it. Those are the guys who win in the game. Once you’ve got yourself back up, list all the things that went incredibly well along with the areas where you could have performed better.
When I looked at Hearts last season, I saw that they were excellent—well-coached, with a sound understanding of the game, and they even managed to finish third in the league. There are moments when a season’s momentum just didn’t quite work out for them, and you find yourself regaining the ground he had previously lost. Although I never thought they were so awful, occasionally people feel the need to change, and they do.
