KRISTOFFER AJER has told the media his time at Celtic prepared him for battle in the Premier League. However, the Norweigan did claim he wasn’t challenged enough in the league.
Ajer made the move to Brentford back in the summer after making it clear to Celtic he had no intention of carrying on in Glasgow.
Ajer wanted to leave BEFORE the attempt at ten in a row but was asked to stay for the ill-fated title tilt.
Ange Postecoglou came in very late this summer and knew from the off he couldn’t use Ajer as an option. Kris sat on the sidelines at Celtic’s Welsh training camp during pre-season games until he got his move.
The defender had some great times at Celtic and really became a man in Glasgow. He came in a scrawny midfielder and he left a combative and passionate defender.
“It has been great. I think coming from Celtic, it is quite easy to take that step.” Ajer told VG.
“It is a massive club in Glasgow that is expecting you to win every single game.
“So, it has been easy to adapt to but also quite challenging regarding the opposition that you play every weekend.
“So it has been a great learning experience.”
Asked about the quality he faced in Scotland, Ajer was honest.
“I think it is natural when you play a little too many matches at a level that is not high enough.
“I have incredible respect for the Scottish league, there are many great teams there, but there will be a little too many matches where I am not challenged enough.
“I will definitely be in the Premier League, so I probably think the Premier League is not possible to complain about.”
I think it’s natural for some fans of Scottish football and Celtic to take exception to comments like this but I don’t think Kris is trying to be disrespectful.
Some will point to some of Ajer’s performances in Europe as evidence when he was challenged, things got sticky. There is something to be said for playing against lower opposition most of the time and then trying to make the step up when a European club comes to town.
Even Virgil van Dijk struggled against some of Europe’s top teams in a Celtic jersey.
Ajer is forging the path ahead for himself with Brentford and we know he’ll have his eyes set on a move up the Premier League ladder in the future. We wish him all the best.
