James Forrest was speaking after once again writing his name into the club’s record books, having scored for Celtic in a 17th consecutive season.
Few players are better placed to reflect on difficult periods at Celtic.
Forrest has lived through sustained success, sudden change, and seasons shaped by unusual circumstances. That experience informed his measured response after the latest result.
This campaign has begun under pressure. A managerial change, uneven results, and growing tension around the club have shaped the early weeks.
Forrest did not deny that reality, but he framed it through experience rather than alarm.
What stood out most was his comparison to past seasons, including the COVID year. Forrest did not lean on nostalgia.
Instead, he used that period as a reference point for how strange and testing moments can feel inside the club.
He said: (RecordSport), “Obviously we don’t want to get carried away. It’s still so early in the season. It’s still really early for the manager as well.
“But I think it just shows that we are together and I just look forward to Saturday now. It’s been difficult. I think I’ve been here for so long, I’ve had so much success, so many good moments.
“I’d say the kind of 10-in-a-row season but then obviously that was Covid and the fans weren’t in so there was something different about that one. I’d say maybe nothing really kind of like the last couple of weeks.
“Obviously, we’ve had a couple of different managers and stuff as well, but I think that just shows that we all need to make sure we stay together and that’s what we have done the last couple of weeks.
“Hopefully, we can just go game at a time, build back up the confidence and as you saw on Sunday, we could have scored six or seven goals but we kept going and we managed to get the win in the end. Hopefully we can kick on from here.”
Forrest’s comparison to the COVID season was careful rather than dramatic.
That period was unusual because of empty stadiums and a sense of separation. He pointed out that even then, it felt different from what Celtic are dealing with now.
The key difference is presence. Fans are back, pressure is constant, and reactions are instant.
Forrest accepted that the last few weeks have been difficult, but he did not suggest they are without a way forward.
His focus on unity reflected what players often feel before results turn. When confidence drops, connection becomes important.
Forrest spoke about sticking together because that is often the first thing tested during strain.
There was also a clear note of patience for the manager.
Forrest stressed how early the season still is and how little time has passed since change arrived. That context matters inside a dressing room adjusting to new demands.
The winger’s comments about chance creation also carried meaning.
Celtic have lacked control in spells, but the performance on Sunday showed signs of rhythm returning. Forrest framed that as progress rather than proof of anything fixed.
By saying they could have scored more, he did not ignore flaws. He pointed instead to effort and persistence.
That balance reflects how senior players often judge performances differently from outside noise.
Forrest has lived through title races, rebuilds, and collapse.
His reference to past success was not boastful. It was a reminder that difficult spells do not define a club on their own.
The most telling part of his message was the absence of panic. He did not promise momentum or instant change. He spoke about the next game and the work ahead.
In a season already shaped by disruption, that grounded approach matters.
Scoring again underlined his consistency, but his words showed where his priorities remain.
For Celtic, confidence will not return overnight. Forrest’s message suggested it does not need to.
Step by step, together, and with less noise, the season still has room to settle.
