Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is rightfully Celtic’s man of the moment after a dramatic winning goal on his debut. He’s explained how his dad helped inspire his move north of the border, and gave an honest review of not knowing where his career was heading before joining the Hoops.
13 minutes into his Celtic debut, the 32-year-old produced the moment that kept the title charge on track. It was the kind of goal that settles nerves inside the ground and sends a jolt through the squad.
The Hoops needed it. There was no room for a stumble.
For Oxlade-Chamberlain, it was more than just a winning goal. It was the end of weeks of uncertainty.
He had not kicked a ball competitively all season before last night. No minutes. No clarity over where his career was heading.
Now he is in Glasgow on a six-month deal, with the option of another year, and already central to the conversation.
He admitted just how unclear things looked not long ago. He said (Celtic FC YouTube):
“This time, a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t know where I was going to be or where my future stood in the game. I just kept my head down, trained hard and believed that something would come up.
“It has, and it did. Now I’m going to be doing absolutely everything I can to repay the club with the faith they’ve put in me.”
That is not a player easing himself in. That is someone who understands the chance he has been handed.
There was no hesitation when Celtic called. He spoke to Joe Hart and Andy Robertson before making the move, but the biggest push came from home.
“It’s an amazing opportunity. When it came up, I didn’t doubt it for one second. It’s a long way from home, but even that was not a factor for me coming here.
“My family was really supportive of it, and you don’t get chances to play for clubs like this.
My dad’s from an era back in the day where this club means a lot.
“Maybe back in that generation, the guys know a lot how much it means to play for this club. He was straight away telling me, I’ll get you in the car now and drive you up there myself.”
Celtic have taken a calculated gamble on a player with pedigree but no recent minutes. He has arrived motivated and fully aware of the size of the badge.
Thirteen minutes was all it took to show he can still influence a game. Now comes the harder part: Producing again.
Kilmarnock is up next this Sunday. Oxlade-Chamberlain has put himself right in the mix for a place in the starting lineup. His minutes still need to be managed, though, otherwise another player could be sidelined. That’s the last thing needed, given the upcoming schedule.
yes plastic pitch not good lets hope the team score the chances that they make against livingstone we should have been four up inside half ab hour then when we take the lead we try and control things by passing it about the back which cost us abd will at rugby park where the ball roll alower given teams time to intercept this pitch is not for passing at the back get it into opposition half and win the second ball our pressing has to be right which hasnt been of late we lost Engels for i dobt know how long Chamberlian want take his place it will need to be McGowan who O’Neil I dont think rates to highly his form has dropped lately or Hiata every mistake he makes is costly you cant just volley the ball cause some player us looking for contact yes it was a mistake penalty people blame defence for not dealing with fouls shys corners into area but these teams know and practis them daily they know they wont play through our defence now Engel is out anothe tall players to help in high ball into box
The Celtic defence are suspect when a team plays a high line and that’s exactly what Rangers will do on the next 2 trips to Ibrox, Scales especially panics and as for Schmeichel why does he insist on playing the short ball when a team plays a high line.
I honestly think the tactics must change against that lot.
Who am I to tell Martin O Neill what to do?!!!