Carl Starfelt had the pre-match press duties this week ahead of Sunday’s trip to Dingwall. The Swedish defender was one of 9 Celtic players called up for International duty over the past couple of weeks, however, the big defender was benched for both of Sweden’s games. An outcome that spared his chances of returning to club duty with any sort of injury.
PHYSICAL ENCOUNTER
Starfelt is expected to line up in defence alongside fellow stalwart Cameron Carter-Vickers in what he expects to be a difficult and physical encounter.
“I expect to face a physical team who plays on their strengths. They will probably try to keep it very tight defensively. We know that it’s usually a hard game when you when you come up there so that’s what we’re prepared for. If we if we can come up to our level of football and focus on our football instead of making it a physical contest, then I think I think we have a very good chance of winning the game.”
ONE GAME AT A TIME
Celtic have won 14 in-a-row and hold a 9-point advantage going into the final 9 games of the league season. Despite a second successive title seemingly being within touching distance, the Swede was at pains to stress to no-one inside the club is taking success for granted.
The recurring theme of taking one game at a time, and focussing on the task at hand, that we have come familiar to hearing in these press conferences was highlighted once again.
“We aim to win to win every game, that’s our goal. But like I said, it starts on Sunday and then we need to take one game at a time. If you look too far ahead, you’re gonna lose the focus on each day and each game.”
“We have big confidence in the team overall, we know that we’re a very strong squad and we have a lot of players who played together for a long time now. I think we will go into every game with a big belief that that we can win the game and then we will see where we are in the in the end of the season. We need to keep focused and be present”
ENVIRONMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT
Starfelt also took time to acknowledge the improvements in his own game over the past few months as he continues to work towards becoming the best defender he can be. Again, the theme of continual improvement is one we have heard a lot of recently from the likes of Reo Hatate and Jota, and shows the level of determination and professionalism within the squad.
“I feel like I’m improving a lot, which is really good. If you want to become the best player you can be and get the best career possible you need to always keep improving and I feel like in Celtic you really get the chance the chance to do that. It’s a really good environment where you’re getting pushed every day to perform and obviously the demands from the outside and also inside to always win games. It’s very developing and so absolutely I feel like I’m developing and I feel like I’m in a really good club to do that and a good environment to do that so I’m happy.”
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