CELTIC star Alistair Johnston has attributed his success at Celtic to his physicality while joking that his captain Callum McGregor tried to steal his thunder in the most recent Glasgow Derby.
The 24–year–old right-back arrived from CF Montreal in a £ 3.5 million deal, showing a bullish side that the Hoops supporters adore.
AJ admits that playing hockey has aided him in becoming the ‘big man’ on the pitch, with viewers quite commonly tuning into a rough sport full of scraps. [Celtic TV]
“It’s the foundation of my game to a degree. You have to have technical ability to be playing at this level. But if you take away my desire and my competitiveness I’m not nearly the same player as some of the guys. I know what I need to bring if I want to play for Celtic. It’s part of me, it comes back to my family, my childhood – growing up in a family of three boys where I was the middle child and everything was a competition, a battle.
“In sports too, playing hockey. It’s a huge thing for us growing up in. Canada. We love to hit people and get in to it but its also about camaraderie. If you hit one of my players, one of the most skilful guys, it’s my job to go and back them up.
“You could see it with the national team, we’ve brought on that identity. I try to bring that to Celtic. You can see it with Cal (McGregor). I think in the last match I got knocked over and I turned around and he was already in there pushing someone for me and I was like ‘Mate, that’s my job! Get out there'”
It’s hilarious that Johnston believes that it’s his job to get in the opponent’s faces and have a little pushing and shoving. Although, it was nice to see CalMac involved for once, showing his inner Broony!
It’s not just Alistair Johnston’s passion that fans love. AJ has been a quality signing for the side, arguably upgrading on Josip Juranovic. He’s still adapting to the inverted full-back role, but he’s starring in almost every game!
