Celtic shot-stopper takes leaf out of John McGinn's book as 'serial winners' spark exciting hope

It’s for that reason that goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo is confident that being part of a squad brimming with “serial winners” will help the newly-crowned five-in-a-row Premiership champions banish memories of their previous two disappointing visits to the national stadium.

Celtic are in a position that few supporters would have predicted at the turn of the year, in with a chance of sealing a domestic league and cup double. Much of their late end-of-season revival stems from Martin O’Neill’s influential presence, according to the Finland international, who now has his sights fixed on keeping a clean sheet against Championship side Dunfermline Athletic at Hampden today.

Reflecting on last weekend’s title-winning celebrations in the aftermath of Celtic’s 3-1 victory over Hearts, Sinisalo said: “Obviously, the weekend was a lot of joy and happiness, a lot of hard work that we've put in as a group to get over the line. That was the emotion. It was a mad week. The last six days, all of those games we go a goal down in but we somehow managed to find a way of winning those games.

“It's just relief of being part of a successful team. There's so much that's happened this whole season. Things have gone against us, so to go and find a way, not always pass with flying colours, but still get through, it's just really pleasing and really sweet.

“But it’s very much back to the normal training level, and we've been training hard for the last couple of days. Everyone's loving going to Lennoxtown and we’ve got a big game to forward to.”

Sinisalo eager to banish recent Hampden cup final failings

Celtic’s past two cup final outings in Mount Florida ended in heart-breaking defeats to Aberdeen last May and against St Mirren in the League Cup in December. Sinisalo found himself on the bench for both matches, but that will not be the case this afternoon as he prepares to don the gloves one last time this season.

“It's what you come to clubs like this for,” he replied when asked how determined he was to right those wrongs. “You want to be labelled as a winner. Not just a winner, but a serial winner. And there are a lot of people in that changing room that are that, which definitely helped us get over the line in the league.

“You're playing for a massive football club where every game, you're scrutinised, and every game, you need to win, and there's that pressure on you. It's a privilege, it really is, to be a part of something like that. Ultimately, you want to be part of something successful, and that's what we are trying to do. We’ve done it in the league, and hopefully now we can try and do that on Saturday.

“We're very lucky to have a changing room full of winners, a lot of leaders in there. You’ve got James Forrest, Callum McGregor, Ali (Johnston), Cameron Carter-Vickers, so many that understand what it is to be a Celtic player.

“In football, especially at a huge club like this, the most important game is your next one. It doesn't really matter what you've done three years ago. It doesn't matter what you've done two weeks ago. You've always got the next one where you're then getting judged, and you’ve got a chance to perform and and do well, and ultimately try and win a trophy.

“So that's been the message this week but it comes from within a changing room of people understanding what it is like to be a Celtic player. And that's why the club has ultimately had the success that it's had over the last 15-20 years.”

Sinisalo keen to emulate European Cup winner’s success

One player who will be keeping tabs on Celtic’s double quest is newly-crowned Europa League winner and avid fan John McGinn. A former team-mate of Sinisalo, the Aston Villa skipper savoured the greatest night of his club career to date in Istanbul on Thursday as Unai Emery’s side ran out 3-0 winners over Bundesliga club Freiburg to lift the trophy.

“I did watch it,” Sinisalo confessed. “I thought they were excellent. Genuinely, I'm so happy for John. Me and him actually signed in the same summer. I was obviously an under-16 and no one had a clue who I was. He’d came from Hibs, didn't he? He's seen a lot of things happening at that football club from the Championship and now to be a European cup winner is special. He's a great man, and you wouldn't wish it to a better man.

“I'm sure he'll hope that (Celtic can seal the Scottish Cup). We've got a job to do, it's not a given that you achieve that in football. There's 90 minutes, 120 minutes of football ahead of us, so you can't really think of what's ahead after the game. You’ve got to take it minute by minute when 3pm comes around on Saturday. But yeah, I'm sure he'll be watching.

“Initially when I signed, I remember speaking to him about it (signing for Celtic), and he gave me some lowdown on what to expect as a Celtic player being in Glasgow, which you grow to understand really quickly! We’ve swapped a few messages here and there. He's been brilliant with me and was when I was there as well. He's gone on to do amazing things in his career. Hopefully, I can do some of the things that he's achieved.”

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