Brendan Rodgers praised Viljami Sinisalo’s composure and presence after the young goalkeeper delivered a standout performance in his first Glasgow derby, helping Celtic to a 1-1 draw at Ibrox.
Celtic’s Viljami Sinisalo celebrates after winning the Scottish Premiership REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
With Kasper Schmeichel still sidelined due to a shoulder injury, the 23-year-old stepped into the spotlight and produced a mature display, earning plaudits for a series of crucial stops—including a late save to deny Nicolas Raskin from close range.
“Vil was excellent,” Rodgers said post-match, quoted by The Celtic Way. “You’re always looking for maybe keepers with temperament, especially a young keeper, and I thought his temperament was really good today.
“He didn’t look nervous, dealt well with anything he had to, and yeah, I’ve been really pleased with Vil. We knew he was a really good young keeper. Indirectly, this has given him a chance to get some games and show that he has the authority to play for Celtic, and he’s definitely done that.”
Sinisalo’s confidence was evident throughout. He demanded the ball from his defenders, wasn’t afraid to bark instructions, and looked assured under pressure from Rangers’ set-pieces and long throws. His late save from Raskin capped a strong afternoon, with his command of the box showing real maturity.
The Finland international’s displays are beginning to fuel talk about his long-term potential, with some fans already wondering whether he could eventually take over from Schmeichel on a permanent basis.
Rodgers also offered a short update on the veteran Dane, saying: “Kasper is just ongoing day-to-day. We’ll see how he is, and we’ll see where he’s at over the next week or so.”
While Schmeichel’s experience remains invaluable, Sinisalo is doing everything right in his absence and if this derby display, and recent performances are anything to go by, Celtic have another quality option between the sticks for years to come.
