Brendan Rodgers has opened up on Celtic’s goalkeeping situation as Kasper Schmeichel returns from injury, admitting that Viljami Sinisalo’s emergence has “cleared up” the club’s long-term thinking between the posts.
The Danish veteran is back in the squad for the final Premiership games after recovering from a shoulder injury picked up on international duty in March. However, in his absence, Finnish stopper Sinisalo has taken his chance impressively, particularly with a standout performance in the recent derby draw at Ibrox.
“As for Viljami, I think it’s been an interesting one because if Kasper had stayed fit we may not have seen so much of him, in which case then we would have had a decision in the summer because he’s a very, very talented young goalkeeper and it was in the case of does he go out on loan to get that experience with the view to him coming back to challenge Kasper to be number one.
“Indirectly, the situation has really, really helped us and cleared up that thinking because he’s been excellent and he’s played with real authority and calmness for such a young goalkeeper. He did a big test away at Ibrox last week, he came through that really, really well. I’ve been pleased for him.
“Kasper was our number one goalkeeper, he’s been brilliant for us all season. It’s just really good to have him back and available and we assess it from there.
“I think we just have to be careful with Kasper, and we’ll wait to see until later on how his shoulder has reacted, and then we can make a decision then who will play tomorrow. It’s just the nature of it, but no doubt we brought Vil in here to eventually be the number one goalkeeper, and everything to that plan is on point at this moment in time.
“He’s been very, very good. I’ve been really, really impressed with him in the games and it’s great to have that.” [Celtic TV]
In the longer term, the plan remains for Sinisalo to take over as the club’s number one.
With the Scottish Cup Final looming, Rodgers now has two fit and in-form keepers at his disposal – a dilemma he’ll quietly welcome as Celtic aim to complete a domestic Treble.
It will be the first treble that Sinisalo or Schmeichel win, but it will be Rodgers’ third, and Celtic’s sixth in nine years. It’s become the norm for Celtic to lift a clean sweep in recent years.
Then, after the treble is wrapped up, Schmeichel enters his final year on his contract, with Sinisalo still pushing to become the number 1 before the Dane’s contract expires. He’s shown he’s got what it takes in a Celtic jersey.
