Elena Sadiku: We aim to play to our strengths against Hibernian

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Celtic F.C.

·28. Februar 2025

Elena Sadiku: We aim to play to our strengths against Hibernian

Celtic FC Women face their final pre-split league fixture this Sunday when they take on Hibernian at Meadowbank Stadium (KO: 4.10pm).

It’s a vital SWPL fixture for Elena Sadiku’s squad against a side they drew 0-0 with back in August, and it’s also one of a number of top-of-the-table clashes the Hoops face over the next few weeks.

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There are currently four teams at the top of the league table all on 51 points – Celtic, Hibernian, Glasgow City and Rangers – with the teams only separated by goal difference.

It means that the Hoops are currently third, and will play Hibs who are fourth, with the sides facing two further post-split fixtures against each other.

However, the focus for the Celtic squad is only on this Sunday’s match and the need to take three vital league points, and the Head Coach is looking forward to the game.

Speaking at Celtic Park today alongside Hoops player, Emma Lawton, Elena Sadiku said of the recent break: “It’s a good thing because they need to recover from the busy schedule that we’ve had.

'But the message has been – okay, you’ve had some days off but this is because you need to come back and be even better and even sharper and the training has been really good. It’s all about performing really well on Sunday.'

“Training has been focused on our principles and do what we need to do to perform the best football that we can but today we had a more tactical session when it comes to how to be aware of Hibs’ threats and strengths and what they want to apply in the game.

“Then obviously we’ve been focusing on how to exploit and how play our game to make sure we perform well to win the game.”

The Hoops face a Hibernian side which hasn’t lost a league game since September, so there is an acknowledgement that they will be difficult opponents on Sunday.

However, confidence is high within the Celtic squad as they focus on the task ahead, which is tom try and retain the league title they won last season.

“If you look at Hibs, I respect Grant as a coach because he’s done really well with the team, and their strength is the team,” said Elena Sadiku.

“They’re very organised and they all have their roles and do it well, and if you look at how they’ve been playing, I don’t think they’ve changed too much.

“They defend really well and they go with transitions, and they’ve been successful with their set-plays.

'We need to respect because they’ve been having a great run and they’ve been doing things very well, but that doesn’t change that we need to be confident in ourselves and what we can do.'

“I’m still very disappointed that we’ve not involved in the cups any more but that’s something we need to turn into a big motivation to focus on what we can control, which is only the league now.

“But I’m very confident that we have a great squad which can compete and dominate against Hibs because we’ve been showing in moments that we are a great team – we just need to control things better to make sure that we get the full performance and result.”