Giorgos Giakoumakis delivers brilliant message on what is expected as a Celtic player

By Lewis Laird

May 13, 2022

Jock Stein once said, ‘Celtic jerseys are not for second best; they don’t shrink to fit inferior players’.

That is the sort of expectation that comes with being a Celtic player.

New signings such as Jota or Carl Starfelt aren’t likely to be aware of quotes like that. However, that mentality has clearly been drilled into them by Ange Postecoglou.

That level of expectation on the players was made clear by Hoops striker Giorgos Giakoumakis.

When speaking to the media this afternoon, the Greek striker was asked about how much he has enjoyed the title celebrations and if it matched his expectations when he joined back at the beginning of September.

Giakoumakis delivered a brilliant response to the question, stating that the players enjoyed clinching the title midweek, but that is required for the players at a club like Celtic.

He said [Celtic TV]: “It’s a unique feeling (being champions). It’s something that is very important for every football player’s career to win titles, especially with such a massive club like Celtic.

“I think we worked a lot during the whole season, and right now, we just enjoy what we worked for.

“If you play for this club, one of the main targets every season is to win the league.

“It’s something that we are forced to do because this club have already won so many titles, and when you sign for this club, you expect that you will be a champion – you want to be a champion.

“So, I think it is something I was thinking since the moment I signed here.”

The Celtic number seven has really set the tone of this Hoops side since he became a regular after the January winter break.

Giakoumakis has been on a fine run of form but still admits his frustration at not scoring more this season, which shows the sort of mentality the former VVV-Venlo man holds.

Heading into every season, the aim for any Celtic side is to win the league.

But, this wasn’t just a regular season, after the troubles of last year, the rebuild we were forced to go through, and the appointment of Ange Postecoglou.

However, the players refused to make any excuses and delivered the club’s 10th title in the last 11 years.

That mentality only bodes well for the future and looking towards next season.

In other news, Ange Postecoglou opens up on ‘surreal’ Celtic week.