Neil Lennon has touched on the pre-match motivation he delivered to Ryan Christie that helped book Celtic a Scottish Cup final spot against Hearts.
Christie went into the game yesterday having failed to score from open play since September 19th in a 3-2 home win against Livingston. Since then, the former Inverness starlet had only managed one goal in total – a penalty at Pittodrie in last weekend’s 3-3 stalemate.
However, operating from the right side, Christie scored his best effort of the season after cutting inside and curling a stupendous effort into the top corner. It’s a kind of strike that the Celtic man tries so often, and when it comes off, it looks absolutely incredible.
But Lennon has told Celtic TV that Christie’s opener came after a pre-match message from himself, as he informed his star-man that he was due a goal.
“I was saying to him before the game ‘You’re due a goal from open play’ and he delivered with a wonderful finish.
“I thought he was great. I thought he was really bright in the first half. Thought his movement was good. It’s not an ideal position for him (wide right), but with the position we want to shape up he’s the only one who can really fill that position.
“But I thought he was outstanding in the first half.”
Christie’s goal return remains impressive
Even though Christie had been on something of a goal drought from open play, you can’t deny the quality of his direct goal contribution figures this season.
Christie has only played 17 times yet has managed to bag eight assists and five goals in all competitions. That’s a direct contribution to 13 goals in 17 matches. Not bad going considering he’s been dipping in and out of form this season.
But you could also tell that his lack of open-play goals had been bothering him in recent games. Since Livingston, Celtic had played eight games where Christie was involved. His failure to score in any of them from open play had him shooting from almost all angles as he looked to get back on the goal trail.
So hopefully his marvellous strike at Hampden yesterday can put his mind at rest. He doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone, and so long as he plays his own game without getting too caught up in how many goals he’s scored, it’ll help us in the long-run.
Next up, Christie will undoubtedly be looking to break another of his goal ducks in having failed to score in the Europa League this season. The Hoops have played four games with the talented attacker involved in all of them.
Sparta Prague is up next, and don’t be surprised if Christie’s return to goalscoring form continues when the Czech outfit pitch up in Glasgow on Thursday.
In other news, Lennon has lauded the influence of a player he was so close to selling this summer.
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