Paulo Bernardo has lifted the lid on the confidence Celtic carried into domestic games during his time at the club.
Speaking to Przeglad Sportowy, Bernardo explained that there were occasions when Celtic felt so strong that they expected to win before a ball had even been kicked.
He said: “In Scotland, when I played for Celtic, we sometimes knew we’d win a match before we’d even stepped onto the pitch.”
Bernardo also highlighted the ability Celtic had to find a way through matches even when things were not going perfectly.
He added: “In Scotland, we’d sometimes score goals out of nowhere and just win.”
That level of belief came with pressure as well.
Bernardo compared Celtic with Benfica and said the expectation to win every week was something both clubs shared.
He said: “Celtic is very similar to Benfica.
“It’s the biggest club in the country, a huge brand. It has fans all over the world. You have to win every match; it’s a must. Celtic was a very good move for me because I was able to play more than I did at Benfica.”
Bernardo also looked back positively on what he achieved during his time in Scotland.
He said: “I was given opportunities in the Champions League and the Europa League, I won three league titles and I also won cups. I’m very grateful to Celtic.
“It’s a massive club.”
His comments give an interesting insight into the mentality inside the Celtic dressing room during a period when domestic success became the expectation rather than the exception.
Bernardo has now moved on in search of more regular football, but he clearly retains a strong appreciation for the scale of the club and the pressure that came with representing Celtic.
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