James Forrest loving the squad input | OneFootball

Midweek football is on the agenda once more for the Celts in a top-of-the table clash with Aberdeen at Pittodrie tomorrow night (Wednesday).

The teams have already met twice this term, the league outing at Celtic Park finishing 2-2 with little between the sides score-wise at least, but it was a rather different story ay Hampden in the League Cup semi-final.

A rampant Celtic side went to town with a 6-0 win as the Hoops honed their performance to a fine point with a glorious display.

James Forrest came off the bench at Hampden and he’s hoping to have an influence in the league meeting against a side who have been one of the surprises of the 2024/25 season.

The winger said: “They’ve done really well this season, they’ve got a good squad as well. Obviously the game at Celtic Park was tight.

“In the cup game I think we were just really good, but it’s going to be a good game tomorrow and one we are really looking forward to.”

The entire Celtic squad have been playing their part in Celtic’s successful run this term, and Forrest is just one of the players who are reaping the benefit of the strength-in-depth pool Brendan Rodgers has at his disposal.

The winger said: “I think that’s really good for the manager and the coaches that he’s got that.

“And when the manager has changed it at times this season, the players that have come in have done really well.

“We’ve had a couple of international breaks, which has maybe given a checkpoint, but in December and January you are really going to need the squad, and with the amount of international players and how strong the squad is, that’s good for everyone.”

All of the above has made for a pretty exceptional term for the Hoops so far, with many feeling this has been a standout season.

Forrest said: “The manager has talked about the last couple of months of the season last year and when we went into pre-season, we just kind of kicked on, and in the squad as a whole, the new signings have helped with that as well,.

“Everyone’s been working hard, we had a good pre-season and we’ve taken it from there.

“Personally I feel this season is one of the ones I’ve enjoyed the most – being a part of it and playing.

“And obviously it helps with how successful the team’s been and how well the team is playing as well.”

Such success, though, brings its own pressures, but, as Celtic’s longest-serving player, Forrest has handled more stress than most.

He said:  “Maybe when I was in my mid-twenties, it was new and when you’re winning constantly the pressure is there.

“It doesn’t matter what game you are playing, the pressure is massive, with the amount of fans that come to our home games, the away games, it’s always there throughout the full season.

“So, when you sit back a wee bit when you’re older, and realise how big the club is, and you know that you’re not going to play forever, you want to enjoy it as much as you can, and this has been right up there.”

Watch the full interview to hear James Forrest on:

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Aberdeen Vs. Celtic - Wed, Dec 4th 2024, 20:00