Auston Trusty has offered an insight into what life at Celtic is really like, with the defender pointing to the constant demand that comes with playing for the club.
Since arriving in Glasgow, Trusty has had to deal with competition for places and the rhythm of two seasons where games come quickly. There has been no time to settle into a comfortable run. One performance leads straight into the next.
That has shaped how he looks at his own performances. For a centre-back, mistakes can stick if you let them. Trusty has focused on putting things behind him quickly and staying level, no matter how a game goes.
The fixture schedule plays its part in that. With Celtic involved in multiple competitions, there is rarely a break between matches. It keeps players on edge, but it also means there is no time to dwell on what has already happened.
Trusty said: (Goal), “You can have an amazing game, but there’s another game in two or three days and, when that game happens, it’s now the most important thing.
“You have to always move on. You’re going to have good games and bad games, highs and lows, and you need to stay in the middle but have belief in yourself.
“There’s always another game. If the last one didn’t go your way, you have another in three days, and everything else doesn’t matter anymore.
“It’s a bubble. When you’re in the Glasgow area, it’s a bubble, but Celtic is also a worldwide brand. I was in an Irish bar in Sorrento, Italy, and it was a Celtic bar. It’s what you want.”
That way of thinking fits with his role this season. Trusty has gone in and out of the side, often stepping into games where there is little margin for error. That can be tougher than having a settled place in the team.
Playing at Celtic Park brings its own demands. Teams drop in, space is tight, and defenders are asked to push high while staying alert to breaks. Away from home, the game opens up, which brings a different kind of test.
Trusty’s comments show he gets what is needed. There is no room to drift through games or rely on what came before. Each match stands on its own, and that is how he is approaching the weeks ahead.
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