Celtic captain Callum McGregor has stated that the Hoops haven’t trained in away stadiums “for years” as he answered questions on their snubbing of Bodo/Glimt’s Aspmyra stadium.
Celtic have taken the decision not to bother using Bodo/Glimt’s stadium as a training venue. That’s despite the fact the surface will see the Hoops compete on a plastic turf – something different than what they’re used to at Celtic Park.
Ange Postecoglou has already stated that he didn’t see any benefit from taking up the option. He stated that Celtic wouldn’t suddenly gain a miraculous new perspective on how to play tomorrow night [Sky Sports].
And McGregor has now come out and stated that this isn’t actually anything new at the football club. Speaking via Celtic YouTube, Calum said: “For Celtic, for years we haven’t trained in away stadiums. We have our preparation and the way we like to do things. We train here, we’ll fly this afternoon and then the preparation’s done.
“People can overthink that you have to go to the stadium, see it to take it in and be prepared. That’s just different beliefs and different people. We seem to have a structure that works reasonably well for us and when we get to the game tomorrow, we have to be ready.
“The conditions, the pitch, we get a feel for that in the warm-up. We prepared well today so we hope for a positive result tomorrow.”
Callum McGregor provides new perspective when it comes to Celtic training
Interesting that Celtic have a way of working that doesn’t involve them taking in the stadium and the playing surface. I could totally understand what Ange was trying to say earlier though. It’s not as if stepping on some grass and kicking the ball about is going to see you make major modifications to your game.
Celtic have experience of plastic pitches in Scotland, and top-end ones too. It’s not as if the surface at the Aspmyra is going to blow them away with anything they haven’t experienced before.
In fact, as McGregor said, the warm-up will allow the players to get a good feel of things. It’ll allow them to see how the ball moves and how quick it is on the surface. They don’t need to dedicate a full afternoon or night to it.
Of course, it now becomes an easy stick. There will be many now using it to batter Celtic over the head with if we fail to get the job done tomorrow night. All of a sudden, not utilising the Bodo facilities will be seen as a mistake.
But clearly this has only been highlighted as a potential issue because Bodo confirmed the decision on their website. Not something we’re used to from opposition teams.
Celtic have managed to go out and score 8 goals away from home against top-class European opposition in the Europa League. Whatever they’re doing for their prep work, it’s working well enough for them.
In other news, “I don’t want to make it a big story”; Callum McGregor’s hits back at Celtic narrative
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