Celtic heading into the unknown with an open mind, says Jenny Smith

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·17. August 2024

Celtic heading into the unknown with an open mind, says Jenny Smith

“We’re going into the game with the unknown with Glasgow City – it’s just about us having an open mind,” Jenny Smith

Jenny Smith has been converted from a midfielder into a wing-back this season by Elena Sadiku and got off to a flying start with a great performance and a goal at Celtic Park on flag day against Dundee Utd. The Scottish Champions are back in action tomorrow afternoon against Glasgow City at Airdrie. Jenny spoke to the media, including The Celtic Star ahead of the match…

CELTIC FC WOMEN v GLASGOW CITY

Albert Bartlett Stadium, Airdrie. Sunday 18 August 2024. Tickets £10 (adults), £5 (under 16s), £13 (adult and u16). Purchase HERE. Kick-off: 4:10pm | Gates open: 3:30pm…see you there!

Q: You scored on the opening day, how important is that to you and how does it feel?

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Jenny Smith: “The first game, it’s a great feeling, and something that I want to do is get on the scoresheet. And I think the game overall on Sunday was a really good performance and a good start.”

Q: Overall, what did you make of the performance on Sunday?

Jenny Smith: “I think in the first half, we maybe weren’t as good as we could have been but I think the second half really showed when we scored more goals. At half time, we came in and thought we maybe could have scored more, and then we did that in the second half.”

Q: It’s a really big game on Sunday. Do you prefer to have these big matches earlier in the season?

Jenny Smith: “Maybe yeah and no. We’re going into the game with the unknown about City. We know what they did last season but I think with the players and the set-up they’ve got now, it’s different. So I think it’s just about us having an open mind about the game on Sunday.”

Q: Do you hope to get more consistent minutes this season?

Jenny Smith: “Yeah, I hope so. I’ve changed position, which I’m happy about, and I think it suits me a lot better as a player. I’m just hoping for more game time.”

Q: And do you hope to maybe break into the Scotland squad again?

Jenny Smith: “Yeah. I think there’s a 23s camp coming up soon, so I hope I get picked for that because obviously, it’s very good to play for your country.”

Q: The start that you got on Sunday, do you think that’s a result of the work you’ve done over the summer?

Jenny Smith: “Yeah. [Me and Elena Sadiku] had a conversation about moving me wing-back. I got transitioned last season but it was hard with the split, and it’s hard to move position then. But I went into the season working hard and I think it showed on Sunday that I can compete for the starting line-up.”

Q: How do you cope with the competitiveness of the squad?

Jenny Smith: “I think that this year especially, there’s a lot of competitiveness. But I think as well, especially for my position, it’s a lot of healthy competition. If another player starts, you’re still egging them on to play and I think it’s good to have that competition that’s healthy, when you’re all egging each other on to play.”

Q: And that competition comes through on the training pitch as well?

Jenny Smith: “Yeah. It shows but I think we’re all happy for the starting line-up. I think Elena could make a whole starting 11 again and it’d be the same performance. It just shows the talent.”

Q: Is scoring more goals something you’d like to add to your game this season?

Jenny Smith: “Yeah. I’d say I’m quite fast, and I think that [being a wing-back]suits me better. Elena does want the wing-backs to score more goals this season, especially assisting as well, just having that link-up play with the wing-backs.”

Q: How was pre-season?

Jenny Smith: “It was good. Especially in Sweden. I thought it was good to get away with the new players because we’ve got quite a lot of them. I think just bonding as a team and having that togetherness was really good. The pre-season games that we had in Sweden were very hard but I think that’s going to prepare us for what’s to come, with the Champions League and everything else.”

Q: There are a lot of new players in the squad, how has the squad dealt with that?

Jenny Smith: “It’s quite hard when new players come into the team because it’s a quick transition to try and get everyone to play together. But I think that the talent that Elena has brought in is really good and I think having the likes of Hana [Kerner] and Luana [Muñoz] back is great. I know they’ve had a tough time being out so it’s just great to have them back on the pitch.”

Jessica Elliott