Chris Sutton has rubbished the idea that being Celtic’s goalkeeper is an easy job, insisting it’s one of the most demanding roles in football due to the unique pressure it brings.
With Viljami Sinisalo in line to start against Hearts this weekend, Sutton used his RecordSport column to highlight just how mentally challenging the role between the sticks can be at Celtic Park—particularly when the action comes in short, sharp bursts.
“There are matches in Scotland where the man between the posts only gets called on two or three times in 90 minutes,” Sutton wrote. “Yet they better make sure they are 100 percent spot on every time, otherwise the scrutiny is huge.”
It’s that concentration challenge, Sutton argues, which separates the great Celtic goalkeepers from the rest. He believes it’s not just about shot-stopping, but dealing with the demands of a side expected to dominate most domestic matches.
“The slightest slip-up can have massive consequences, so it takes a mentality and level of concentration you don’t see everywhere,” he added.
Sutton knows what it takes to make it at Celtic, having played alongside some of the club’s top keepers. He pointed to David Marshall’s emergence as a young No.1, thrown into the fire against Barcelona in 2004, as a benchmark for how big the task can be—but also how it can shape careers.
“He was only a teenager at the time and he was a quiet lad. Yet he had a steel about him. He had the temperament you need to be a Celtic goalkeeper.”
Sinisalo’s chance may have arrived sooner than expected due to Kasper Schmeichel’s absence, and while the Finland international has impressed in glimpses, Sutton made clear that there’s no hiding place in the role.
“All eyes will be on him, analysing how he deals with crosses, his shot-stopping, how he does with the ball at his feet – which is a big part of the job at Celtic. There’s no room for error.”
As Celtic look to respond following the derby defeat to Rangers, there’ll be plenty of attention on those in green and white. But none more so, Sutton believes, than the man wearing the gloves.
