Adam Idah celebrates with teammate Alistair Johnston after Loris Benito of BSC Young Boys concedes an own goal, resulting in the first goal for Celtic, during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and BSC Young Boys at Celtic Park on January 22, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
‘They are cheering for a team that represents them’
“But at the same time it’s like, ‘Wow! She is actually really invested in how I do at the weekend!’. It’s kind of cool in that aspect. As long as you fully grasp that and you know what the fans want.
“I always felt the fans want to feel like they can cheer for someone. They are cheering for a team that represents them. And what our fanbase is all about – it’s blue collar, it’s hard working people who work unbelievably hard to be able to afford the tickets to support their club week in week out. And they want to see that on the pitch.
“So when you leave it all out there, which is something I always pride myself in doing, I feel they can always respect that. I feel that’s one of the reasons why the Celtic fans have taken to me so well and I try to reciprocate that whenever I can.”
“You want to make this last month and a half as enjoyable as possible”
Alistair Johnston knows we’re now at the business end of the season – in his first year after he was signed by Ange Postecoglou in January, he won a treble by the end of the campaign – and there’s another treble in his sights this time around after last season’s double delight under Brendan Rodgers.
Alistair Johnston. Dens Park, Dundee v Celtic. 14th January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
St Johnstone stand in the way at Hampden on Sunday in the Scottish Cup semi-final before the five post split matches come around in the Scottish Premiership with Celtic needing just one point from 15 to secure the title and even then the goal difference advantage is plus 42. Tannadice is first up and that’s where Celtic will want to win it before heading to Ibrox to spray the champagne.
“That’s why you do the hard work all season”
“That’s why you do the hard work all season. You want to make this last month and a half as enjoyable as possible. The only way you can do that is by having won that first trophy in December and then being in contention for the other two,” Alistair Johnston said.
Nicolas Kühn and Alistair Johnston during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and St. Mirren at Celtic Park on January 05, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“When that weather starts to turn, you realise you are in the home stretch for trophies”
“If you do the hard work early, it gets to this point and you can potentially enjoy the riches from it. So it is an exciting time. The sun even came out for a while, although it’s gone again! But when that weather starts to turn, you realise you are in the home stretch for trophies.
“That’s part of the Celtic DNA. You come here to win trophies and we’re now at that stage where you get to earn your money.”
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