Yesterday alongside manager Ange Postecoglou, the man between the sticks for Celtic, Joe Hart spoke to the Mainstream Media before our SPFL encounter against St Johnstone at Celtic Park on Saturday afternoon. Again the Celtic fan media was excluded from these first team media events while the red-tops and the radio rogues at BBC Scotland are welcomed with open arms.
Joe ‘Sacred’Hart has been a major addition to this Celtic side, exerting a steady and experienced influence on a new-look defence that has barely played with the same personnel from one week to the next. However, with a run of games and the cementing of the partnership between Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt ahead of the Englishman, the rough edges seem to be getting ironed out – as reflected in the last two games which garnered clean sheets for Hart and the Celtic defence.
Joe Hart of Celtic during the UEFA Europa League group G match between Celtic FC and Ferencvarosi TC at Celtic Park on October 19, 2021. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Ahead of another round of league action at home, Hart said: “That’s for other people to judge because they know what they expect from Celtic players. I can only be me, I can only give 100 per cent like I do. Obviously I play for the club, I play for the badge and I play for the manager.”
The goalkeeper admitted that he is learning more and more what is required to play under Ange Postecoglou, and revealed he’s hungry to keep the number one shirt. He continued: “I’m trying to understand what he wants from me as best I can, that’s for other people to judge but I feel good in shirt at the moment and I want that to continue.”
Hart also spoke of the desire to keep performance levels high which can breed more confidence in this ferocious Celtic side. He added: “I don’t think we can afford to let it change. We’d like to think we’re going to keep a pretty decent level, which we maintained when we weren’t necessarily getting the results we wanted.”
Joe Hart of Celtic punches away a cross in game between Motherwell and Celtic. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“Obviously we want to keep winning – it’s no secret that winning does bring confidence, but we’re trying to build a nice flat-line, something that we can work to, and then the performances will come from there.”
This revelation from Joe is like music to the ears. All the great teams had that fervent desire to win all of the time, never giving up until the final whistle. This was emphasised in our win up at Pittodrie and was carried on into the Motherwell game. We must keep this hunger up if we are to steal our title back again this season.
Hart could be the secret glue that holds this year’s title bid together as we go in search of silverware once more.
Paul Gillespie
More must-reads: