“A good start makes a difference,” Alistair Johnston

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·3 August 2025

“A good start makes a difference,” Alistair Johnston

“Three points count now as much as they do at the end of the season,” Canada international Johnston told Celtic TV.

James Forrest of Celtic celebrates with Alistair Johnston after scoring during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and St Mirren at Celtic Park on May 17, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“When we look back at last season, we had a good start and that made a difference come the end of the season. If you do your work early you can take a lot of pressure off, especially when the season gets really busy in the winter.

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“We know how important it is to come out of the blocks strong, and this year we have Champions League qualifiers as well, so it’s a big month for us from the get-go.” Johnston says unfurling the league flag this weekend will give Celtic’s new signings “an understanding of what the minimum requirements are at this club”.

Alistair Johnston. Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“It’s also motivation from day one because we want to do that again. You’re expected to win trophies and that’s what it’s all about.”

Alistair Johnston also spoke to the media, including The Celtic Star, at Lennotown on Friday afternoon after Brendan Rodgers’ dramatic media conference. Here’s everything that was said by our Canadian right back.

Q: Another new season here at Celtic, how are you feeling about the campaign ahead?

Alistair Johnston: “Excited. It’s another fresh, fresh slate to start a season here. Again, a lot of talented players in the group, a lot of hungry players as well, with whom we’ve added in. We have retained a lot of experience. So, it’s another great opportunity for us but it also starts off pretty heavy as well. We’ve got a big month, obviously, with the Champions League qualifier, and that will really set the tone for how the season is going to go. But so far, it’s been a great pre-season. I think we’re ready to go and get this, this campaign underway.”

Anthony Ralston who scored Celtic s 5th goal shares a laugh with team mate Alistair Johnston of Celtic at full-time. Final score Celtic 5 Kilmarnock 1. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 12 April 2025 IMAGO Photo: Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

Q: How do you feel the depth of the squad, the quality in the squad and the form that you’re coming into the season compared to previous years?

Alistair Johnston: “Oh, that’s a good question. I always think that there’s always so much talent in our squad. I think that also the young players, what they’ve shown through pre-season, they’re a year older, obviously, more experience under their belt, they’ll definitely be able to add something to the squad.

Alistair Johnston in action. St Mirren v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Saturday 1st March 2025. Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“Overall, in terms of the pre-season, I thought that, I think that for everyone who was watching any of the matches, I think that there were some really good moments, barring the match against Ajax. That was probably the match that stood out, which was probably the sole negative part of pre-season, but again, we learned from it and we’ve built on that. So, no, I think that the morale, the quality of the team that we have here, I think again is strong enough to go and achieve the goals that we want.

18 02 2025, Champions League, FC Bayern Muenchen vs Celtic Glasgow, Allianz Arena. Alistair Johnston Celtic Glasgow vs Harry Kane FC Bayern Muenchen. Photo IMAGO

“Again, the transfer window’s not closed yet, so we’ll see what happens in these, these last weeks here. In terms of the quality that we have here, we have plenty, and we have plenty of experience as well.”

Q: What are the goals for this year?

Alistair Johnston: “I think it’s the same as every year here at Celtic. It’s, it’s pretty straightforward with that is that you’re aiming to lift every trophy that you’re a part of. So, that means obviously, you know, you’re going for all the domestic trophies and then in Europe, you know, we’ve got to make sure that we, we get into the Champions League, which isn’t going to be easy.

“At the same time, if we do get into it or whatever the case is, is that you go as far as you possibly can in a European competition. And that’s something that again, I think we look back on, we’ve learned, we’ve gained more experience in that competition and understanding of what it takes at that level. Now that we kind of have some experience under our belt of playing in that campaign, what it looks like with that new format, I think there’s a lot of optimism that, if we get a good draw, that anything is possible. There’s definitely an excitement with that as well.”

Concacaf Gold Cup-Group Stage-El Salvador at Canada Jun 24, 2025 Houston, Texas, USA Canada forward Tajon Buchanan 17 celebrates scoring with defender Alistair Johnston 2 during the second half against El Salvador during a group stage match of the 2025 Gold Cup at Shell Energy Stadium. Houston Shell Energy Stadium Texas Photo Troy Taormina

Q: Players don’t get much of a break in the summer, but for you, busy on and off the pitch. How was your summer?

Alistair Johnston: “It was great, thank you. I was definitely busy off the pitch as well. I got married, so did that, and then straight after the honeymoon, I was off to play some international football, which was always good fun. I played in the Gold Cup, played some matches there and then after that, guys were nice enough to give me a bit more time off before I met back up with the team here and then went off to Como. So it’s been a busy off-season, been a bit of everywhere. I did a lot of things, but I am focused and recharged.

Q: I was just about to ask, do you feel recharged after being married?

Alistair Johnston: “It was definitely nice to get that all done. It was a great day, a great weekend altogether. Having all of our family and friends there was, was pretty special. I think the sleepless nights don’t start till you have kids, so it’s been pretty good at the house.”

Q: Flag Day is always a bit special, isn’t it?

Alistair Johnston: “I know, it’s always a great day. I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of some of them. It’s always a special day. I think it’s a reminder for all of us, how much hard work we put in the previous season. It’s a reminder that this is what we’re aiming for this season and that nothing’s given. Everyone’s got no points on the table at the start of the season.

HOUSTON,TEXAS. JUNE 24th: Alistair Johnston 2 of Canada during the match between Canada and El Salvador in the Concacaf Gold Cup 2025, held at the Shell Energy Stadium, in Houston ,Texas PHOTO BY FABIAN MEZA/ STRAFFON

“So, it’s a reminder that, hey, this starts right away. So it’s always an exciting day. It’s a great day for our fans, and it is also a good reminder, I think, as a lesson to all the new boys that come through the door that this is what this club is all about. It’s about raising banners, it’s about winning trophies and I think that always kind of starts the season off in good step.”

Q: You mentioned a reference in terms of the Champions League. How much of a burning desire within the group to go to that next level?

“Alistair Johnston: “I think that once you’ve experienced (the Champions League) nights at Celtic Park and going away to some of the biggest venues when you’re playing some of the best players and the best clubs in the world, once you get a little taste of that, that’s all you want. You just want to be in those environments playing and competing against those teams at every possible opportunity. So, it’s important for us, as I touched on before, that whoever we get in this final qualification draw that we find a way to get through that tie. It’s not going to be easy, but once you’ve been out there and experienced that, there’s nothing quite like it in club football.

James Forrest of Celtic celebrates with Alistair Johnston after scoring his team’s equalising goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and St Mirren at Celtic Park on May 17, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“So that’s got to be the plan, and there’s definitely a burning desire within the entire group to go even further than we did last year. I think that we put on a really good show for not only ourselves, but for our fans, and the rest of the world about what we’re all about as a football club. I still think that there are levels where we can go further. That’s an exciting thing that we want to try and, you know, test and see how far we can push it.”

Q: There’s been a lot of excitement with the club football, with domestic and European, but given what’s at stake as well for yourself, Canada next summer, as well, the World Cup in your own country. Is that even an even bigger reason for you just to make sure you’re, you know, fit and firing for that stage as well?

Alistair Johnston: “It’s a massive season, not only for myself, but for a lot of guys in our changing room in terms of a lot of guys wanting to be a part of a national team set up for the World Cup. Being a home World Cup too, it’s something that you dream about. Being able to be a part of a World Cup team, but not only that, but on home soil, it’s pretty special. For me, it’s an added motivation just in terms of taking care of the little things. You want to be playing your best throughout this entire season and to take yourself into that(the World Cup) in the best possible way, but it’s also about being fit. I’m making sure that I’m taking care of all the little things so that I can be available.

18 02 2025, Champions League, FC Bayern Muenchen vs Celtic Glasgow, Allianz Arena Jamal Musiala FC Bayern Muenchen vs Alistair Johnston Celtic, photo IMAGO

As we’ve seen in the past seasons, there’s a lot of football matches here, especially if you go deep in all your domestic competitions, you go deep in Europe, it all adds up. For me, it’s about making sure that I’m fit and I’m available. I’m getting to that stage of my career now where I’m becoming an older and probably more experienced player in this squad. So, I am trying to really kind of become that top-level player that I know I can be deep down. Hopefully, I can do that for Celtic and my national team this year.

Q: I think it was that many games, your game was maybe about some time ago as well. How do you make sure that you’re recovered, you’re recharged, and then just keep that going throughout the season when you talk about recovery in between games as well?

Alistair Johnston: “It’s not easy in terms of when you’re just playing that many football matches, but at the same time, our coaching staff does a really good job with our sports science and our medical staff in terms of finding that proper balance of that workload. They do a really good job of managing myself, CCV, and guys like that who they know are going to play in big minutes and also have some other potential ailments that have kind of lingered from the past.

“So they do a really good job of that. It’s really about leaving that kind of stuff to the people who got their degrees and the expertise in it and going along with what they say because at the end of the day, they have our best interests at heart. There are so many matches now, and there is a lot of football, so there isn’t an off-season anymore. I think we’ve seen that now, with the addition of even the Club World Cup, it’s just constantly a calendar that continues to get divided and spread out between all the different tournaments whether it’s international or club.

Alistair Johnston, Hibs v Celtic. 22 February 2025.Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“There’s a lot of demands on the player, so it’s really about being a professional on and off the pitch and taking care of your body and doing the little things that, you know, could be the difference between, you know, being able to play that many matches or not.”

Q: You played a huge part in James Forrest’s goal last time out. Are you desperate to get him off the mark a lot earlier this season?

Alistair Johnston: “Ah, I’d be buzzing. I’d be buzzing if we could do it against St. Mirren again at home, just this time being the opening match rather than the last. It’s an unbelievable streak. That was among the loudest roars I’ve ever heard, at Celtic Park, and I’ve heard some good ones. I think that goes to show how much he means to this fan base and this club. I think everyone realises what a living legend he is. Hopefully, we can keep that streak going and get it done a little bit earlier in the season so we’re not all desperately telling him to shoot at every possible opportunity for the final month of the season. I have a good feeling he’s going to get off the mark pretty quickly here.

Q: Was it going through your head at that point when the whole stadium’s screaming at you to pass to him?

Alistair Johnston: “Well, it wasn’t to shoot, but there was never a doubt in my mind that I was going to shoot. Like I was never shooting that ball. I just had to try and line it up just enough to draw that defender in to think that I was, but it was always, even if it wasn’t Jamesy, it was getting passed there. As soon as I realised it was going to be him and watching him just walk onto it, I’ve seen him do it in training many times. It was just a lovely little connection, as he cut across it and what a great moment it was. I think everyone really enjoyed that, and I watched that clip back on my phone several times just to hear that roar because it was, it was cool.

Q: It was a great pass before it, and a lot of players would have had a shot themselves, but is this a moment that maybe will live with you for the part that you played?

Alistair Johnston: “Yeah, I think so. In terms of it, it’s hard to watch that goal without seeing that pass and to think that I was a part of it is kind of cool. At the end of the day, I’m glad I didn’t shoot it because Lord knows where that ball would have gone. To think that I got to play a small part in James Forrest’s pretty illustrious Celtic history is always a cool thing. I’m just glad that he finished it, for crying out loud. It would have been a real bummer if he’d shanked that shot. But, no, I had full faith in the man.”

The Celtic Star: You had a great partnership with Nicolas Kuhn last year, playing on the right side. I’m thinking about Jamesy this year or Yang, maybe?

Alistair Johnston: “Part of being at a big club is turnover. Nic and I developed a really good partnership in terms of him being on the left foot, cutting inside, and me overlapping and underlapping. At the same time, I played a lot with Jamesy and Yang. It’s going to be about building that relationship, getting that understanding again of exactly what each player likes. They’re both right-footed and probably prefer to take their full-back on the outside.

“How that then affects my game and how I get them the ball is going to be different to what I did with Nic. At the same time, I mean, there are bundles of quality between them. We’ll work on that as the season progresses. Again, with Nic and me at the beginning, it wasn’t necessarily easy right away. We didn’t hit the ground running. It takes time. I’m going to have to figure out that relationship, just like they’re going to have to figure that out on the left side.

“Losing Greg (Taylor) and Jeff (Schlupp), and then we got Kieran (Tierney), and it’s going to be a different kind of left side, too. So Daizen’s going to have to figure that out with KT, for example. I think that’s a challenge that all footballers understand when you’re at a club like this, there’s going to be turnover, things are going to happen, and you just have to be able to, you know, roll with it and figure out how you can be successful.”

The Celtic Star: When you go away with Canada, are any of the boys over there talking about maybe coming to Celtic?

Alistair Johnston: “Not too much to be honest. I’ve tried in the past to see if I can get some nibbles, and I’ve pushed some of the lads to the coaching staff, so we’ll see. There are no Canadians that I have on my radar right now that I have a feeling are making the jump over to Celtic that I’m aware of.”

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Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.

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