Alistair Johnston spoke pre-match about life at Celtic and the pressure of playing in the Champions League, with the Canadian defender speaking so openly and honestly in a refreshing interview.
He revealed how the atmosphere at Celtic Park affects him and the lessons learned from the Hoops’ last two European away games.
Johnston said: (TNT Sports), “Celtic Park on a Champions League night, there really is nothing quite like it. When the anthem plays, I’m not even sure if the noise that’s made is even humane; it’s like, guttural, it’s unbelievable, just the wall of noise that 60,000 humans are able to create there.
“It’s impossible not to get all the hairs on the back of your neck to stand up and get some shivers down your spine. And if you can’t get ready for a football match after that, you’re not in the right profession.
“No matter what stage of the game it is, if it’s not going your way, you know what, okay, settle down, get compact, get in a 4-4-2, and let’s just see this out.
“We want to be playing attacking football at all times, but sometimes you’re going to need to defend. And you can take pride now that we have a performance to look back on and say, Look, we did exactly what we wanted to do defensively, and it got us a point on the road against a really difficult team.”
Alistair Johnston’s comments perfectly capture the thrill of playing at Celtic Park during a Champions League match.
It’s not just about the game; it’s about the connection between players and fans. When you feel that kind of energy from 60,000 supporters, it’s hard not to get fired up and ready to give your all on the pitch.
On the tactical side, Johnston shows a mature understanding of what it takes to succeed in European football.
He acknowledges that while the Hoops strives to play an attacking style, there are times when they must dig in and defend.
His suggestion to switch to a 4-4-2 formation when things aren’t going well speaks to the need for flexibility specifically in Europe.
