Giorgos Giakoumakis has finally addresses his horrific penalty miss vs Livingston in October, as he admitted that it’s still well in his mind.
Giakoumakis looked set for a big morale-booster when Livi visited Celtic Park on October 30th. A win and Celtic would narrow that gap at the top of the Premiership to just 2 points. A last-minute penalty was handed to us in a game we never looked likely to win beforehand.
Unfortunately, the former VVV-Venlo striker produced a woeful spot-kick that was easily saved by Max Stryjek. Struck with a casual style of run-up, it’s well recognised as an important moment in the title race.
Even so, Giorgos is back amongst the goals once more after netting his second for the club against Alloa Athletic on Saturday. And as he looks to really kick on with his Celtic career, the big Greek forward revealed that the Livingston miss continues to haunt him on a regular basis.
As quoted by the Daily Record, Giakoumakis said: “I’m not happy about that. It could have been three starts and three goals but I missed the penalty.
“It’s something that’s really in my mind. I try to move on and I hope from now on I will score in every single game and help my team. From now on I start my season. I hope I can be healthy until the end. I’m fit, healthy and I’m really happy for that. If I’m fit and healthy I will be the one.”
Giorgos Giakoumakis can’t allow Livingston penalty miss to define him
There’s no denying how big that miss was against Livingston. We could be sitting here in a much better position had Giakoumakis scored it, and it was a shot taken without any sort of conviction whatsoever.
It probably didn’t help the former VVV-Venlo striker that he then missed another sitter moments later at the back post. He had a chance for instant redemption and failed to take it. It’s no wonder he continues to be haunted by it.
Even so, the £2.5m man is going to have another big run of Celtic opportunities in the coming weeks [Sky Sports]. With Daizen Maeda away with Japan and Kyogo Furuhashi sidelined, the Hoops have no option but to turn to Giakoumakis for the next 3 games.
It’s a glorious opportunity for him. Tynecastle followed by a fixture against Dundee United in which we failed to win earlier this season. That then comes just several days before a Glasgow derby clash with Rangers at Parkhead.
If Giakoumakis can net in 2 or all 3 of these fixtures, all of a sudden his Celtic career looks a lot different. The penalty miss vs Livingston is certainly forgotten about for a start. It would be a new chapter for him, and one that he must be desperate to move into.
His goal at Alloa on Saturday, then, was hugely important for the confidence. If he can show similar technique when in the box at Hearts on Wednesday, then it will spell huge danger for our Tynecastle foes.
In other news, Report: Mikey Johnston could make Celtic loan exit after glowing Scott Brown review
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