James Forrest has revealed the key moment in which Celtic’s fortunes turned around this season. The Hoops winger credits the defeat at Ibrox at the tail end of last year as the moment that inspired the players to further success.
The PFA Player of the Year has played in all but one of Celtic’s games since that loss as the Hoops embarked on a long unbeaten run.
Forrest told the Daily Record: “Going into the winter break we went to Dubai but it wasn’t the same because we left after such a bad result and poor performance.
“What made us play so well when we came back was the fact everyone was still really hurting from that game.”
The Dubai trip
Wouldn’t you have loved to be a fly on the wall for the week Celtic spent in Dubai?
December’s bruising defeat at Ibrox clearly scarred the players and they vowed to take revenge. They hit the ground running and haven’t lost in 20 domestic matches this year.
The potential of a trip to Dubai next year will depend on the preferences of the manager at that stage. The Middle East idea was one that belonged to Brendan Rodgers’ time at the club. However, it still makes sense in the Northern Irishman’s absence.
The time spent away clearly paid dividends for the players this year. Who knows where we would’ve been without it.
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