Blair Spittal has lifted the lid on Alistair Johnston’s fiery approach to mind games, revealing that the Celtic right-back branded him a “b**”** during a clash last season.
The Hearts midfielder, speaking on the Open Goal podcast, recalled how Johnston laid down the gauntlet during a one-on-one situation, trying to get into his head.
“He called me a b**** last year to be fair. I think I was one-on-one with him, or something like that, and the ball had broke between us.
“I think he asked me to take him on. He said, ‘Go on, take me on you little b****’. I think I called him out. I went ‘That’s a bit uncalled for isn’t it’?”
Johnston has quickly built a reputation as a tough, no-nonsense defender, with his aggressive style and relentless attitude making him a key figure in Brendan Rodgers’ squad. His trash talk on the pitch clearly extends beyond his physicality, as he looks to rattle opponents mentally as well as physically.
Spittal seems to have been caught off guard by Johnston’s approach, but it’s unlikely to surprise Celtic fans, who have seen the Canadian international’s fiery character in full flow since he arrived at Parkhead. It’s probably the least surprising news you’ll read today, but it’s still great.
It does make you winder what AJ say to others when on the pitch.
On the Celtic side, he comes across as a great leader and a potential future captain. He has worn the armband on a few occasions, but entering the prime of his career, he could yet be at Celtic for a few more years which could see him take on the responsibility.
