Celtic striker Giorgos Giakoumakis has admitted that he “needed” his goal at Tynecastle as he has been desperate to score in a big game since his arrival.
It was a struggling first half of the season for the big Greek striker after his £2.5m move from VVV-Venlo [Sky Sports]. Despite arriving on deadline day, injury woes set Giakoumakis back whilst a costly penalty miss vs Livingston damaged his reputation amongst the support.
But it’s looking like a different story in 2022. Giakoumakis has netted in his first 2 starts of the year against Alloa Athletic and Hearts respectively. Both goals have been sumptuous finishes too, with a brilliant first-time finish at the Indodrill Stadium followed by a clever back-heel flick last night.
The Tynecastle goal marked the first time Giakoumakis has scored for Celtic in a real high-profile clash. His only other goal came against St Johnstone on Premiership duty. And speaking to Celtic TV post-match last night, the big striker believes he “needed” what he delivered:
“It is really important for me and of course it was really important for the team. We won a very big game. I wanted to score in a big game. I needed it. Obviously, we could’ve scored more goals in the first half and also in the second half. But we lost it in the last pass and the finishing. We could’ve made the result easier because in the end it was really tough. We ran a lot, we fought a lot, and we got more tired from that game. But we’re happy, it’s a big win, and we move on.
“For me I don’t care how I score. A goal is a goal. Even if it’s on the line and I touch it or if I score from the midfield with the right shot. It is the same. Of course I’m happy. That was my goal in the summer when I came here [to play regularly]. Thank god I’m healthy, I can be myself, and contribute for the team.”
Giorgos Giakoumakis looking to reinvent himself as a big-hitter at Celtic
We’re seeing a lot of character from Giakoumakis even this early into 2022. Could you imagine just how low his confidence levels must’ve been after missing that penalty against Livingston? Or after he picked up that knee injury at Dundee that kept him out for the rest of the year?
He’ll have been all too aware that his first 4 months at Celtic were simply unacceptable. Not for a player of his calibre and with the responsibility he carries on his shoulders.
When Celtic signed Daizen Maeda at the beginning of the month, who would honestly have thought that we would be talking up Giorgos at this particular moment? With Maeda on international duty and Kyogo Furuhashi injured, a chance has opened up out of nowhere. And it’s one he’s grabbing with both hands.
But it’s all about kicking on from here. There’s no time for Giakoumakis to put his feet up and enjoy what he’s produced over the last week. Yet in fairness, he doesn’t seem like a player who has any real desire to do that either.
He knows just how big a period this is in Celtic’s season. He knows just how big a role he has to play in it too, with a massive Glasgow derby against Rangers coming up at Parkhead next week.
Hopefully, he continues his fine momentum against Dundee United on Saturday at Parkhead. We could certainly do with another goal to boost the confidence heading into Wednesday night.
In other news, Maeda, Kawasaki Frontale, and J League stars respond to Reo Hatate’s Hearts vs Celtic Insta post
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