Alistair Johnston shares Celtic players ‘give me stick’ for post-match actions with John Kennedy

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Alistair Johnston is one of the first names on the Celtic team sheet for Brendan Rodgers. 

The Canada international probably doesn’t get enough media coverage, certainly outside of Celtic, but he has been consistent for his side.

Johnston’s performances also translate to Canada because he is also a key player for Jesse Marsch, especially with the 2026 World Cup edging closer.

The USA will be the main hosts, but Canada and Mexico will also co-host matches and it’s going to be a huge opportunity for Celtic’s starting right-back to make an impression on the biggest stage in world football.

One thing is for sure, he is on an upward trajectory during the right time of his career and he is getting better.

It’s helped by Celtic winning trophies for fun and the fact that he can work under the stewardship of Rodgers.

But the player himself deserves credit and there are some things fans just don’t see.

Alistair Johnston shares Celtic players give him stick for analysing games with John Kennedy

Most of the time, fans across the world aren’t seeing the behind-the-scenes work, the early mornings or even the late nights.

But Johnston’s performances shouldn’t be a surprise, especially given the effort he puts into preparing for matches and also what he does post-match.

The 26-year-old shared that, for an evening game for instance, the next day, by the time ‘everyone is in for breakfast’, he has already ‘done my clips’ with assistant John Kennedy.

That results in Johnston getting ‘stick’ from his teammates and, as a result, it has become a running joke in camp, as he told OneSoccer. 

“I think for me it’s just being a football nerd in a way where I just enjoy the sport so much, just growing up watching it constantly,” said Johnston.

“I used to remember, I used to just watch game after game. I wasn’t necessarily focusing on a certain position or a certain player and seeing exactly what they did. I was more doing it on the enjoyment. But then, as you become a pro and you really start to see ‘okay, when I play against this formation what am I trying to do’, then you watch some of the top teams. You then start to look at it in a bit of a different tactical sense. 

“There is a joke going at Celtic that, we have played the night before, we are in the next morning, and by the time everyone is in for breakfast, I have already done my clips with the manager and all the other guys, they give me some stick for it because me and John Kennedy have a really good relationship. The first assistant to Brendan. Me and him, we do our clips straightaway. We love to go through it. We would sit there for an hour just dissecting different things. Not just my own clips, but the entire game and understanding. Just seeing different things. That’s something I really enjoy.”

Johnston’s season for Celtic in stats

Anthony Ralston put in a strong display for Scotland against Croatia and proved what he has in his locker. 

But he can’t earn those regular starts because of Johnston, and as blunt as it may sound, rightfully so because he is even adding goals to his name now.

During Celtic’s win at Motherwell, Johnston was handed the captaincy and he got on the scoresheet.

WhoScored have rated Johnston’s performances this season – for club and country – at a very healthy and strong 7.28.