Jenny Smith: We want to take Euro positives into Hearts game

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Celtic F.C.

·12 September 2023

Jenny Smith: We want to take Euro positives into Hearts game

The highs and lows of professional football were encapsulated in the space of about 20 minutes for Jenny Smith.

With just six minutes of extra-time remaining of Celtic’s UEFA Champions League Round One tie against Valerenga, she scored a stunning goal to put the Hoops 2-1 ahead and on the verge of qualifying for the next round of the competition.

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Not only that, but it was also the midfielder’s first goal for Celtic since joining in the summer for Hearts.

However, a last-gasp equaliser from the Norwegian side forced a penalty shoot-out which the Hoops lost 11-10.

It was a heartbreaking end to a game that Celtic put so much into and deserved so much more out of, and it is that pride in the performance – as well as the previous victory over Brondby – which Smith and her team-mates will take into their next SWPL fixture against Hearts on Wednesday night.

Speaking to Celtic TV, the 21-year-old midfielder said: “It’s not the outcome that we obviously wanted but we have great momentum going into Wednesday night’s game

“I think it was a really good week and there were a lot of positives. When it goes to penalties it can go either way, but I think the team put in a great performance.

“For me it was my first time playing in Europe and I think, as a team, we bonded so it’s been a great week.”

There is little time for Fran Alonso’s side to dwell on their Champions League disappointment, with a game against Hearts at the Excelsior Stadium looming on the horizon.

For Jenny Smith, there is extra significance to the fixture, given that she will be coming up against her former team.

And having spent the past few years with the Edinburgh side, making over 100 first-team appearances for them, there will be a few familiar faces in maroon when the teams line up on Wednesday night (KO: 7.35pm).

However, it won’t be a case of friends reunited until after the final whistle. Smith’s only focus is on playing her part in helping the Hoops take all three points and maintain their impressive start to the league campaign.

With five wins out of five, and having scored 34 goals for the loss of just three, the Celtic squad are determined to maintain that momentum.

“I’m going to be nervous because it is going to be familiar faces,” Smith admitted, “but tomorrow is about getting the three points and putting in another good performance.

“Hearts are going to be looking for the win because they lost at the weekend,” said Smith.

“Defensively, they’ll be really hard to break down but they do have a threat going forward and I think they’ll put us on the back foot, but we’re prepared for it.

“We’ll take the positives from the weekend, and the main focus is on tomorrow, getting the three points and putting on a good performance.”