Jim Goodwin’s pre-match comments on title chasing Celtic | OneFootball

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin spoke to the media yesterday afternoon ahead of the upcoming match against title chasing Celtic at Tannadice in the early 12.30pm kick-off in the Scottish Premiership...

Jim Goodwin at Tannadice, Dundee Utd v Celtic, Sunday 22 December 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Celtic need just a point but Goodwin’s side are on a great run with three consecutive wins under their belts and also three clean sheets.

“We’re coming into the game off the back of three really good, important victories and three clean sheets.”

“We’re very determined to put on a good performance and try to get another positive result,” Goodwin said as reported by the official Dundee United website. “We’re coming into the game off the back of three really good, important victories and three clean sheets. The defensive structure and solidity that we’ve had in the previous three games is going to be called into question on Saturday against real quality opposition.

Jim Goodwin and Brendan Rodgers at Tannadice, Dundee Utd v Celtic, Sunday 22 December 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“Celtic have shown in the last couple of fixtures, after the disappointment of the performance against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, that they’ve really bounced back. Brendan Rodgers has made a few changes to the starting XI and those players have grabbed their opportunity. You saw that with their high-scoring victories against St Johnstone and Kilmarnock in the last couple of games.”

Asked for his thoughts on all the media attention being on Brendan Rodgers and his side as Dundee United is overlooked, Goodwin reckons that is understandable given the circumstances.

“It’s only natural that, in the build-up to this game, given what’s at stake for Celtic, you would imagine all of the press attention will be on them.”

“It’s only natural that, in the build-up to this game, given what’s at stake for Celtic, you would imagine all of the press attention will be on them. But it’s our job as the opposition to try and make life as difficult as possible. If that means trying to delay those celebrations for the Celtic fans by another week, then we would be absolutely delighted with that.

Kyogo is disappointed after the 0-0 draw at at Tannadice, Dundee Utd v Celtic, Sunday 22 December 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“Our last game against Celtic at Tannadice was a really positive performance from us where we were able to take a really valuable point.”

“Our last game against Celtic at Tannadice was a really positive performance from us where we were able to take a really valuable point, so we have to maintain the high standards that we’ve shown recently,” Goodwin noted.

Goodwin was asked about Celtic’s domination of Scottish football, now running into two decades and on the competitiveness of the Scottish Premiership, the United boss outlined his thoughts.

“The league as a whole has been really exciting and competitive from second place down to bottom of the table. There’s still so much at stake for everyone, even the fight there for the top six, three or four teams were going for it right down to the last day before the split and you can see what’s happening at the bottom of the league.

Adam Idah and Brendan Rodgers at Tannadice, Dundee Utd v Celtic, Sunday 22 December 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“Of course, we want it to be more competitive at the top end as well, but that’s a difficult one to balance for clubs like ourselves, given the financial resources that the likes of Celtic and (the)Rangers have got.

“It does, unfortunately, come down to that a lot of the time. So unless they can change the prize money a little bit and teams like ourselves, Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen can start qualifying for Europe on a regular basis, then that’s the only time we’re going to be able to compete.

Luis Palma at Tannadice, Dundee Utd v Celtic, 22 December 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“It would certainly make it a far more exciting league if it was more competitive at the top end.”

“It would certainly make it a far more exciting league if it was more competitive at the top end. If you take Celtic and (the)Rangers out of the Premiership right now, it’s really tight from third place right down to sixth or seventh at the moment, so that would be a hell of a title challenge. But look, it’s not where our focus is right now. Short-term, medium-term and long-term, our focus is on trying to make sure that we become a regular top-six team, then a regular European team – then we’ll see what happens after that.”

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