The Celtic player who Callum McGregor thinks is 'unplayable'

You displayed great vision for that opening goal, didn't you?

Sometimes they just fall in, don't they? That was fine, obviously, Adam (Idah) made a nice little movement for me to try and find him, and then when your luck’s in, it just drops in. It's a bit of a grey area for the goalkeeper, whether he comes or not, and Adam gets a touch or whatever. I’m just happy the team won, it was a strong performance and it keeps us moving in the right direction.

It was going to be a very different game from Tuesday night, and you certainly did what you had to do to prevail, I suppose?

Yeah, well that's it, every game's a challenge, especially at Celtic, everybody's desperate to beat you. You go from Champions League on a Tuesday night, and obviously, everyone's buzzing, the intensity of the football is there, and then you're going to come here and be asked to play on a tough pitch, the game's going to be sticky, you've got to stand up and be counted, and I thought the players did that really, really well. So, another feather in the cap, and showing that we can be resilient defensively. There were some big performances from the back guys, Kasper and the two centre-backs especially. We showed another side to ourselves and that's always positive as well because you'll have difficult moments throughout the season. I think so anyway.

Was that almost as much as a statement, as Tuesday night, the way you've won it?

Yeah, absolutely, we spoke about that before the game, that everybody's going to be watching the game, is it a hangover, what are they going to be like? So we tried to set the tone in the game early, and ultimately we want to win the game, and that's the only way to show that. So, a pleasing aspect is we won the game, the performance was a little bit sticky in terms of the football, but it's never going to be pretty when you come here, you've got to do the other side of the game, and for the group to show that then, that’s really pleasing as well.

How do you find it as a player, showing the other side of the game, because so long you've played here at Celtic, you have the majority of the ball, and win the majority of the games, but when you're under pressure, and you're sitting at the edge of your box, clearing balls, making tackles, how do you find that?

That's just part of the game, so you've got to do it. Obviously, we build up a team based on the football aspect and trying to control the game, but we know the league's a physical league, and there'll be times when you've got to do that. There's certain venues you go to throughout the season and you've got to be defensively resilient, so we've managed to show that again, and that’s another positive for the group.

When you're in similar situations throughout the long season, when you're at away grounds, and you've had to dig in again, do you always feel that you can get through this?

Yeah, I think the game is the ultimate test of that, but it comes from training every day, it comes from the defensive structure that we've got in the team. We're trying to minimise the amount of chances that we face, and obviously when that doesn't quite go that way, then sometimes you have to have that emergency defending about you, and bodies have just got to be thrown in the way of the ball. So, the game is the ultimate test of that, and can you stand up and be counted, and the team have done that really well again.

When you look at Liam Scales today, he's been in and out of the team, a lot of people thought it was harsh when he's been out, but he's come in today and was immense, does that epitomise the attitude?

Yeah, absolutely. I think the gaffer's built a really strong squad here, where he's got options, and obviously the guys that are in the team and they do well, they want to stay in, and the guys that are on the side, they're desperate to get in and help the boys as well. I've always spoken about it, competition for places. It's a strong squad, it's exactly what you need, especially at this point in the season, and obviously, when we come back from the international break, we'll need every single player. So yeah, he came in, he was fantastic, big Auston (Trusty) as well, obviously Kasper, everyone knows his contribution on Sunday, so it’s a really pleasing aspect when you've got that kind of triangle behind you that you know is solid, and anyone that comes in there is a good player.

That's the first lap in terms of the Premiership games, where do you feel you are, and how much further on do you feel you are from this point last season?

I think the results will tell you where we are ultimately. It’s been a really positive start, obviously drawing one game, probably should have won that as well, to be honest, but a strong start. We're only one-third of the way there, so there's two-thirds to go, and a lot of work to be done, so we're happy with where we are at the minute, but we know that we can always get better. There's a long, long way to go, a lot of football to be played, so we've been over the course before, we know what's required.

The manager says the next period is like an ultra marathon, the games that are getting played?

Well, it is. You look at the games, obviously November, December, January as well, I think there are nine or ten games in January alone, so you've got to be ready, you've got to be ready to play, the team, the squad, everyone, this little period is so important for us.

I think you've got one of the highest miles covered in the Champions League this season, and you used to pound the pavements as well didn't you in the summer last year, so an ultra marathon is up your street isn't it?

Well, that's it, I've always been not bad at that one. No, listen, it's what it is, it’s what football is these days, it's a running game, you've got to look after yourself, and the boys are in a really good place. So, we just try and stay on that as much as we can.

How well has Nicholas Kuhn done, a 21-goal contribution by November?

Unbelievable. His form has been incredible, especially for a young wide player, sometimes it can fluctuate a little bit, but since the start of the season, probably since that Man City game in pre-season, he's been unplayable. His numbers back that up as well, so he's in brilliant form, and when you've got someone like that at the top of the pitch, he can relieve pressure for you, and get big goals, he got another one against Kilmarnock.

I think few people wouldn’t have had Aberdeen as the team in the league asking you the question at this stage of the season, you'll respect that, I'm sure, but do you also think it's bringing the best out of the team, that kind of close challenge?

Yeah, well I think we're always there, whether it's Aberdeen or Rangers, we're always tight at this point in the season. So, as I say, we know what we're doing, we've been over the course many, many times, we know it's about us, and how we prepare, and how we train, and then when the game comes around, it's an opportunity to show what we've been doing all week. That just all builds and culminates come the end of the season. So, we feel good where we are, teams are challenging, and that's great, it just keeps us ultra sharp and focused.

We were talking about Kasper Schmeichel as well, you lost a big presence in there in the summer, and for him to come in so seamlessly, and fill that void, he's doing well, isn't he?

Yeah, yeah, he's a top goalkeeper, with a big personality and big experience as well. On days like Sunday, when it's not pretty, then he stands up, and he's counted for the team, and that's why he's been a top goalkeeper. He’s obviously a big personality as well, we've seen a lot in the games, so you try and draw on people like that as well in your group. We've got some young lads as well, who look up to the older guys, so the more experienced bodies, and good people you can get in the building, then it certainly stands you in good stead for your group.