Elena Sadiku on handling the pressure of managing Celtic FC Women

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·14 November 2025

Elena Sadiku on handling the pressure of managing Celtic FC Women

Celtic FC Women are at Ibrox this evening with the SWPL1 match live on television, giving you a Glasgow Derby match to enjoy as we are still eight days out from Celtic returning next Saturday night away to St Mirren…

Elena Sadiku, Celtic FC Women Head Coach, Hearts 1-2 Celtic FC Women, 17 August 2025. Photo AJ The Celtic Star

Conor Spence was at the media conference at Celtic Park yesterday afternoon for The Celtic Star as Celtic FC Women’s Head Coach Elena Sadiku and Irish international striker Saoirse Noonan spoke ahead of tonight’s game. It’s fair to say that the Celtic manager doesn’t have the best of records against theRangers having just one victory on St Patrick’s Night 2024 to her credit.

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The rest has been a sorry story of hard luck and poor performances that really needs to come to an end this evening, certainly if the chance to reclaim the title is going to be a realistic target. Here’s how the SWPL1 table looks after ten games played.

Elena Sadiku, Celtic FC Women v theRangers, New Douglas Park, Sky Sports Cup semi-final. Sunday 19 January 2025. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

Glasgow City have opened up a lead on current Champions Hibs while Celtic are in third six points adrift with theRangers a further three points behind Celtic. A 2-0 win for theRangers would be enough to see them move ahead of Celtic on goal difference while Sadiku’s side can double the gap between the sides with a victory.

“We know what the Glasgow derby means,” Sadiku stated as she spoke to the media yesterday, addressing the pressure of another season at Celtic FC Women in what is an increasing competitive league with five clubs all having realistic title winning aspirations.

For Sadiku though the story is one where the points collected perfectly well agains the lower half of the league but things seldom go here way against Glasgow City and in particular theRangers. That has to change now but with it now being a point that is continually noted, there comes pressure.

Elena Sadiku, Celtic FC Women v Glasgow City. SWPL1, Sunday 19 October 2025. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

“I have been dealing with pressure all my life,” Elena said “I have played in the Champions League, coached in the Champions League, win titles, won trophies. It is where you want to be. The way I deal with pressure is to give everything I have every single day.

“We know what it means and playing (the)Rangers is the most exciting part of being in this league. We need to show desire, passion, how much we want it.”

Speaking to The Celtic Star, Elena Sadiku rightly pointed out that there’s pressure in the home dugout too, as the league table clearly suggests. “The bigger pressure is on (the)Rangers because they are behind us. I’m not hiding from the fact it has been so long since we won against (the)Rangers but the games have been close. I want us to be on the other side of it this time.”

David Haley and Elena Sadiku look on. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

But there’s also excitement about a big Glasgow Derby match, being played at Ibrox and live on television with a larger than usual audience given the broadcaster and the fact that the fixture falls during the men’s International break.

“I’m so excited. I said to the players yesterday, it’s the best game. It’s more than just a game, and obviously that’s the most exciting part of playing in this league. The belief is going to be stronger than tactics. The desire, the togetherness and everything that we’ve talked about during this week is going to be very, very important.

“For me there’s a strong belief right now and we know it’s going to be a tough game, but we need to have a strong belief because that’s the only way we can make it. I want us to make sure we go out there, enjoy and have the strong belief, and we play really, really well.

“I’m not talking about playing really well in terms of executing and playing really good football. It’s about showing up and showing desire, and showing passion, and showing how much we want it. That’s what I want to see. I want to win so bad, and I want us to be top and show that we are competing for winning the league and winning the cups.

“But I just want to focus on (tonight) because it’s a derby game and we know how much it means for our fans, for us, and that’s going to be the biggest focus. I want to make sure that my players enjoy and deliver for us tomorrow.”

Elena Sadiku speaking to Celtic TV after the match. Celtic v Chelsea, UWCL, Wednesday 13 November 2024. Celtic Park. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

Watch Elena Sadiku’s media conference ahead of tonight’s SWPL1 Glasgow Derby at Ibrox which is live on Sky Sports. Conor Spence is third up asking questions for The Celtic Star and we’ll be at the game this evening too…