“First and foremost,” Viljami Sinisalo on what Celtic must do at Hampden

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·18 April 2025

“First and foremost,” Viljami Sinisalo on what Celtic must do at Hampden

Viljami Sinisalo spoke to the media today at Hampden ahead of Easter Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final against St Johnstone…

Viljami Sinisalo after Daniels Balodis of St Johnstone scored to give St Johnstone a 1-0 lead. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, , McDiarmid Park, Perth, 06 April 2025: Photo Stuart Wallace/IMAGO Shutterstock

Possibility of penalties

The Celtic goalkeeper admits that he’s taken a few penalties himself in training but will concentrate more on saving them if it comes to another shoot-out at the National stadium, after two last year on the semi-final of the Scottish Cup against Aberdeen and then the final of the League Cup back in December against theRangers.

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Joe Hart and Kasper Schmeichel both made saves and Super Joe even took a penalty and hit the post in a game that Viljami watched on television.

“We’re expecting a tough game, they’ve proved that they can compete when we played them at their place – anything can happen in football, so we’ve got to be at our game and compete first and foremost,” Viljami Sinisalo

Celtic v Hearts, Scottish Premiership 29/03/2025. Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo during the match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park, on 29 March 2025. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie/PSI

That defeat in Perth

The recent defeat at McDoarmid Park against St Johnstone will NOT play a huge party in the Celtic mindset for Sunday with Sinisalo noting the response against Kilmarnock last week when Derek McInnes’ side was blown away inside half an hour. St Johnstone will struggle to live with Celtic if we start like that.

With a first team run coming around due to Kasper Schmeichel picking up an injury whilst playing for Denmark in Portugal, Sinisalo admits that he’s loved every minute of the experience which has been even better than he imagined, mentioning the incredibly positive response he’s received from the Celtic support.

Celtic v Hearts, Scottish Premiership 29/03/2025. Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo during the match at Celtic Park, on 29 March 2025. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie PSI

Becoming long-term number one at Celtic

And he’s certainly got his focus on achieving his ultimate goal, which is to become the first pick goalkeeper at Celtic .

“That’s always been the aim,'” he said. “That’s the whole plan of me coming here. I want to play for this football club, I want to be the number one here, and that’s been the aim since day one.

“Kasper’s been brilliant. We’ve got a great working relationship, and he’s been amazing for the club. I’m learning a lot from him.”

01 10 2024, UEFA Champions League, Borussia Dortmund v Celtic, Goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo Celtic PHOTO DE: Dennis Ewert/RHR

What the full media conference with Viljami Sinisalo ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final below…

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