Kasper Schmeichel reveals how Celtic move really happened and awkward chats with other clubs

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Joe Hart was always set to be difficult to replace at Celtic – but Kasper Schmeichel has filled the void brilliantly.

The goalkeeper has started his time in Glasgow with some big clean sheets both domestically and in the Champions League and established himself as a quality operator.

For the 38-year-old it has been a match made in heaven with the Hoops giving him an altogether different career challenge even in his final few seasons as a pro.

• READ MORE: Kasper Schmeichel states what he’s noticed about Celtic on Denmark duty after League Cup final win

Celtic could keep Schmeichel until 2026 with a clause added to his initial deal and judging by the goalie’s thoughts on the club, it would not be a surprise.

Schmeichel hailed the winning mentality at Celtic as one he has never experienced anywhere else in his career and that was just the sort of thing he was looking for when he left Anderlecht.

The fact that Schmeichel already knew manager Brendan Rodgers and had a good working relationship with the Northern Irishman was a positive and now the Dane has gone into detail about how the move came about.

Schmeichel has explained why he agreed to join Celtic

“We went out of the Euros against Germany and I took a couple of days to just decompress and process that whole experience,” Schmeichel told the Fozcast.

“I had a text exchange with Brendan which we’d done lots of times since I’ve left Leicester. It was nothing really specific or anything and then I was going on holiday with my family and a couple of hours before we were to be at the airport Brendan text me and said, ‘Have you got 10 minutes for a chat?’

“We had a chat and he asked what my plans were and what was going on. And we basically agreed everything in 10 minutes.”

Speaking on the club, Schmeichel added: “I’ve loved it, it’s everything I’ve been looking for. I love the fact that we come in from a win and it’s expected.

“Everyone is happy and buzzing and all of that, but it’s like, ‘No, this is what we do here. We win.’ And anything other than a win is a catastrophe.

“That’s a kind of pressure I’ve never played under, really. So, to have that, that was the kind of thing I was looking for.

“That’s why I’ve felt so at home from day one – that’s my mentality and I’ve just come into a winning culture that’s so ambitious and so driven. Anything other than winning, and playing well, is not accepted and for me that’s such a different challenge to anything I’ve ever experienced before.

“It’s about winning and not conceding ever. That kind of pressure you have to be faultless in every single game and to have that kind of pressure I just love it.”

Celtic were not the only club hoping to sign Schmeichel

Of course, when a player is as talented and experienced as Schmeichel, there is always going to be rival clubs interested in signing him up.

But the conversations he had with higher-ups elsewhere didn’t sit right with him.

A lack of sell-on value was often cited as one issue in particular but Schmeichel was fine with that. And when Rodgers came calling, that was never a problem.

“Yeah, there was lots of other conversations with other clubs,” he said when asked about other options. “One of the big things I noticed was people were really paying attention too much to age.

“Age was the biggest factor in sell-on value and that was what surprised me the most. It was very much, ‘Oh you’re turning 38 and there’s no sell-on value’ and these kinds of things.

Schmeichel’s stats since joining Celtic in the summer

“I wasn’t gonna sit there and try to explain myself I just said, ‘That’s your prerogative’. If you don’t think I have a sell-on value that’s probably true but look at my playing record.

“I’ve played every game for I don’t know how many years and it was just one of those things you can’t stop your age, I felt great and I always knew all I needed was a home. Somewhere to show, a good platform.

“I’m just grateful to Celtic for giving me that.”

Schmeichel concluded: “What was it about Celtic? The culture, the winning culture.

“Being part of something, this winning machine that keeps going and going. My idols are guys like Tom Brady, Roger Federer, these guys who have been able to continue winning all the time for long periods.

“To come to a club that has that history and mentality was something that really appealed to me.”