“It’s a day for miracles and heroes,” Simo Valakari rallies St Johnstone

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The Celtic Star

·18 April 2025

“It’s a day for miracles and heroes,” Simo Valakari rallies St Johnstone

Simo Valakari has stated that no one at St Johnstone is intimidated by the prospect of Celtic’s potential response in Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final…

Simo Valakari, Manager of St Johnstone, at the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and St. Johnstone at Celtic Park on December 29, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The Saints manager has listened to all the forecasts of a heavy defeat, seen as payback for the unexpected Premiership loss in Perth two weeks ago.

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Last result has only strengthened his side’s confidence

However, Valakari maintains that the result has only strengthened his side’s confidence, believing they can take on the cup holders in Sunday’s second Scottish Cup semi-final. Celtic prepared for their Hampden showdown with a commanding 5-1 victory over Kilmarnock in Glasgow’s east end in the Premiership last weekend.

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari arrives at Celtic Park prior to the Scottishl Premiership match between Celtic and St. Johnstone on December 29, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Valakari said: “People will be thinking we beat Celtic at home, they’re angry now so they’ll kick our asses. But I see it the other way around. If they’d hammered us at home, we wouldn’t be going into this weekend with confidence. The way it’s worked out, our players know what’s possible. Of course, we know what Celtic can do to teams. You saw it last weekend.

“We’ve shown what can happen”

“But we’ve shown what can happen. You will need some great saves from the keeper, you will need the defence to work properly and some luck in certain moments and when the chances come, you have to take them.”

“But rather than thinking it’s not possible because we won last time, I think about it the other way. The last game gave us an understanding of what’s needed – and a feeling that we can do it.”

Daniels Balodis of St Johnstone celebrates with team mates after scoring to give St Johnstone a 1-0 lead. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, l, McDiarmid Park, Perth, 06 April 2025: Photo Stuart Wallace/IMAGO Shutterstock

Brendan Rodgers emphasised that bottom-placed St Johnstone earned their win, while Valakari appreciated the Celtic manager’s refusal to make excuses or shift the blame. That’s the very mentality the Finnish manager has aimed to build at Saints since his appointment in October.

However, Valakari faces an almighty challenge in trying to secure a double over Rodgers, as the Celtic manager remains unbeaten in 13 matches at Hampden, including seven Cup finals.

“The possibility of it happening maybe gets bigger”

Valakari said: “The more you go there, the possibility of it happening maybe gets bigger. I’m not a gambling man, though, so I wouldn’t know!”

Simo Valakari, Manager of St Johnstone, reacts during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and St. Johnstone FC at Celtic Park on December 29, 2024 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“After the game a couple of weeks ago you saw why Celtic are champions. They have been ruthless this season, but they didn’t look for excuses. They respected the game and looked at themselves.”

“Their focus was all on what they could have done better and that’s the mindset which brings success. That’s the kind of mentality I want here. Always looking inside and respecting the outside. That’s why we respect the league position we’re in. We have put ourselves where we are and it’s up to us to get out of it.”

“You have to stand tall in football and see where it takes you”

“You have to stand tall in football and see where it takes you. We deserve to be in the semi-final; we have been strong in our cup journey. These chances don’t come often, playing in a semi-final at Hampden. So, we have to enjoy it and play our game.”

Simo Valakari, Manager of St Johnstone, speaks to Sven Sprangler during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and St. Johnstone at Celtic Park on December 29, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Saints featured at the National Stadium in August, where theRangers triumphed 2-0 in a Premier Sports Cup fixture. Amid a season of significant changes in the Perth squad, Sven Sprangler and Makenzie Kirk are the only probable starters remaining from that match.

“It’s a big pitch, maybe that’ll give us more space to play”

Valakari outlined: “We had a plan to visit Hampden to let the players see it but things haven’t worked out with the game there on Saturday. It would have been nice to do it but it’s not possible. I haven’t been there myself, so it’ll be a new experience. It’s a big pitch, maybe that’ll give us more space to play. Obviously, that means it will be harder to get close to Celtic’s players but let’s think positively about how it can help us too.”

Here’s St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari speaking to the media ahead of the St Johnstone v Celtic Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday afternoon…

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