Viljami Sinisalo admits days like this are exactly why players come to Celtic. The Finnish goalkeeper will start behind a side that must beat Hearts at Celtic Park this afternoon if Martin O’Neill’s team are to win the Premiership title.
The pressure around the match has been building all week after the dramatic win over Motherwell at Fir Park. Celtic looked close to dropping out of the race before Kelechi Iheanacho’s stoppage-time penalty changed everything and dragged the title fight into one final afternoon.
Sinisalo has experienced the full weight of that pressure during his first season at the club. Injuries pushed him into the side earlier than expected and he has had to settle quickly in matches carrying huge consequences.
Today will feel different again. Hearts only need a draw and Derek McInnes is unlikely to open the game up easily for Celtic. The visitors have defended well against O’Neill’s side this season and they are comfortable sitting compact without the ball before breaking forward quickly when space appears.
Sinisalo spoke before kick-off as the players arrived at Celtic Park.
He said: (Celtic TV), “It’s something you want to be a part of. You want to be part of something successful, and that’s what we’re all looking to do.
“It’s just a game for us. We’ve got to go and win it. Everyone knows what’s at stake.
“We’ve got to make sure we bring our personality and our style from minute one, and I’m sure that will get the job done.
“You talk about being a Celtic player. Every game is that. You need to win every single game.
“That’s very much how it is from the minute you arrive at the football club, so that doesn’t really change.
“It’s everything. They’ve stuck with us through tough times this season.
“But yes, very much confident, and I’m sure we’ll try and do our best to get that done for them.”
Celtic’s biggest issue in recent weeks has been control in midfield when matches become stretched. Motherwell found too much space between the lines during periods of Wednesday’s game and Hearts will try to create similar moments through quick transitions.
That puts extra focus on Celtic’s full-backs. Alistair Johnston and Kieran Tierney will likely spend most of the afternoon high up the pitch trying to pin Hearts back. If Celtic move the ball too slowly though, Hearts will settle into shape and make the game uncomfortable.
The atmosphere should help Celtic early on. The scenes outside the stadium before kick-off gave the day a bigger edge and O’Neill has spoken repeatedly about the crowd driving the team through difficult moments during this run-in.
There is nothing complicated about the task now. Celtic need the win. Hearts need one point. Everything else from this season disappears once the game starts.
