Former Celtic right-back Adam Matthews has said the pressure and expectations at Shamrock Rovers remind him of his time playing at Celtic Park.

Matthews joined Celtic in 2011 from Cardiff City. He spent four years at the club, making 150 appearances and scoring five goals. During that time, he helped the team win four league titles, one Scottish Cup, and one League Cup. He was also part of the famous Celtic side that beat Barcelona 2-1 in the Champions League in 2012.

After time away from the game, Matthews signed with Shamrock Rovers in January. He has played 7 league games so far this season, showing his ability to play in different positions across the defence. Since his arrival, Shamrock Rovers have gone on a five-game winning streak and are now top of the League of Ireland Premier Division by six points.

He said: (Irish Mirror), “Celtic’s a massive, massive team, but you get the same feeling with the fans. You are expected to win every game. Obviously, you can’t.

“Even Celtic don’t do that, but it’s very similar. We go into every game thinking we can win, and Celtic were the same.”

At 33 years old, Matthews brings a lot of experience to Rovers. He has played in big games and knows how to deal with the weight of expectation. That’s something that can help younger players around him.

Even though the Scottish Premiership and the League of Ireland are different in size and attention, Matthews believes that the feeling around the two clubs is similar. Both are used to winning, and both have fans who demand success. That winning culture, he says, doesn’t change, no matter the country or league.

Matthews is now focused on helping Shamrock Rovers stay at the top and push for another title. With his background and leadership, the club is in a strong position to keep up their good form.