“Celtic Park was on fire. It was unbelievable,” Alistair Johnston

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·26 November 2024

“Celtic Park was on fire. It was unbelievable,” Alistair Johnston

Alistair Johnston reckons ‘you make your own history,’ as Celtic prepare for a huge encounter with Club Brugge tomorrow evening at Paradise in the Champions League…

Alistair Johnston. Hearts v Celtic, 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Five Year Contract Extension

It has been a whirlwind few weeks for the 26 year-old right-back who signed a new five-year extension with Celtic pledging his commitment until the summer of 2029.

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During the international break, Johnston picked up his landmark 50th and 51st cap for his national side. Canada progressed to the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League with comprehensive victories over Suriname.

At club level, the Canadian has made 18 appearances for the Hoops this season. Chipping in with four goals and five assists across all competitions, Johnson is impressively averaging a goal contribution every two games whilst playing for the Scottish Champions this campaign.

Alistair Johnston. Hearts v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Tynecastle. 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Brilliant partnership with Nicolas Kuhn

His link-up play with star winger Nicolas Kuhn has been an integral factor in Celtic’s success both domestically and in the Champions League under the tactical guidance of Brendan Rodgers.

However, tomorrow night’s head-to-head with Belgian champions Club Brugge will be another challenging assignment for Celtic on the European stage. The reigning Pro League titleholders sit on six points after four matches in the Champions League, formidably sealing three points against Sturm Graz and Aston Villa. Albeit a 3-0 and 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan look convincing scorelines, Nicky Hayen’s side competed for the majority of those matches.

Celtic just need to focus on themselves

Meanwhile, Celtic just need to focus on themselves. A victory against Club Brugge would secure a place in the knockout playoffs. It would be the first time since 2012 Celtic will have progressed past the ‘group stages’ or ‘group phase’ format of Europe’s elite club competition.

Celtic v RB Leipzig – UEFA Champions League – League Stage – Celtic Park (back to front, left to right) Celtic’s Nicolas Kuhn, Auston Trusty, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Arne Engels, Alistair Johnston, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, Daizen Maeda, Greg Taylor, Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi before the UEFA Champions League, league stage match at Celtic Park, on Tuesday November 5, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

A win tomorrow and we can start dreaming

One game at a time of course, but a win tomorrow night and supporters can start dreaming of a top eight finish – which would guarantee last 16 football. When the fixtures were released in late August, it was matchday’s five to seven which were pinpointed as Celtic’s favourable run of games. Brendan Rodgers and his players know fine well that a replication of a performance to the one on display against Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig three weeks ago is required.

Alistair Johnston insists he and his teammates are ready to create new hero status on the European stage at Paradise.

“For the Leipzig match, Celtic Park was on fire. It was unbelievable. Everyone walked out of the stadium that night just overjoyed with that. I didn’t sleep and I can’t imagine our fans really slept too much after that,” he told the media, post match on Saturday evening including Daily Record. “Those poor people that had to go to work the next day, I feel for them. But again, it’s matches like that, which just get you hooked.

Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“It really is almost like a drug that you just want more and more of once you get a little taste of it. Now you’re just so excited for the next one to go out there and hopefully replicate it or take it even a step further and have a better performance.”

Alistair added: “When you come to one of these famous clubs like Celtic, you want to make your own history. You want to somehow find a way to do that. It’s tough because there is such a great and grand history of this club.

“But you want to be a part of things that fans remember – you want to be remembered for something. I’d love to go down being remembered as being a part of one of the best Celtic teams that you can possibly be a part of.”

Conor Spence