Joe Hart has come out to bat for his close friend and Celtic successor, Kasper Schmeichel.
Schmeichel has come under wave after wave of criticism this season, with many Celtic fans calling for him to be dropped after a string of disappointing performances.
In Thursday’s Europa League second-leg against Stuttgart, Martin O’Neill made the bold call of bringing in number two, Viljami Sinisalo – and his performance spoke volumes.
After a solid showing and clean sheet for Sinisalo, Schmeichel is under even more pressure – but Hart feels strongly about the current situation.
Has he played his way into the team for Ibrox?
Joe Hart on Kasper Schmeichel at Celtic
Asked about the Schmeichel talk by TNT Sports’ Connie McLaughlin, Hart said: “It genuinely tingles, Connie, because this is really personal to me.
“I’ve come out of the game not to have to give these interviews.”
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“I thought I would be able to just look in and assess goalkeeping positions…
“But this is someone who means a lot to me. I know this position – I’ve been in this position. As good as my career looks now I’ve finished, it wasn’t like that.
“There were so many moments where I needed the manager just to show a bit of faith in me because it wasn’t quite happening.
“And look, it’s not nice which has gone on. That’s just what’s been going on in the club, full stop.
“Kasper won’t worry about that but I know behind the scenes he will be communicated with well, with a brilliant manager like Martin O’Neill.
“Tonight [last night] is an opportunity for Vil. Sunday is a different game and the best version of Kasper will be a great option for that.”
Crucially, these words were said before the game – Sinisalo’s performance has put him at the forefront of the conversation for Ibrox.
Celtic’s Europa League run comes to an end despite the win against Stuttgart 🥲
But who gets your man of the match from that spirited performance?
A critical moment for Celtic’s Kasper Schmeichel
Schmeichel is facing a critical period at Celtic, having endured several months of growing scrutiny.
While his performance against Braga initially triggered fan scepticism, his recent display during the narrow victory over Kilmarnock—where he was faulted for both goals conceded—intensified demands for him to be benched.
In those circumstances, Schmeichel’s performance in the Stuttgart defeat was exactly what he didn’t need. The Dane is undoubtedly under more intense pressure than ever before.
And with things getting ugly to a point of Schmeichel being booed by his own fans at Celtic Park, O’Neill may see a spell on the sidelines as the best option.
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