“I appreciate every game now, a lot more than ever, and I love it,” Kasper Schmeichel | OneFootball

Kasper Schmeichel has admitted that at this stage in his footballing life he is enjoying every game as it comes, with the expectation of winning at Celtic Park a great experience in the winter of his career. The Great Dane has come in to the Celtic side these past two years and provided vital experience of top level football, as well as still having the abilities of a world-class shot-stopper.

Kasper Schmeichel Celtic Glasgow,  at the International Press Conference, UEFA Champions League, Play offs, 2024 2025 season, 17 02 2025, Germany. Photo Eibner Presse foto/Jenni Maul

At 38-years-old, the former Premier League winner knows that with each passing day and game, he is getting closer and closer to the time when he may have to stop playing the beautiful game. His predecessor – Joe Hart – called it quits when he was younger than Schmeichel, but Kasper still feels good enough at this moment in time to continue between the sticks for the Hoops and may perhaps even extend his current deal.

Celtic has given the goalkeeper a new lease of life and an experience of needing to win every game when he pulls on that jersey. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast alongside Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Ian Wright, Jill Scott and Jamie Carragher, the Danish ‘keeper admitted that he’s loving every moment he’s on that pitch now, as he knows it’s a blessing to still be playing at the top and for a club of Celtic’s size so late into his career.

Kasper Schmeichel of Celtic acknowledges the fans following the UEFA Champions League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Celtic and Bayern München at Celtic Park on February 12, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“I appreciate every game now, a lot more than ever, and I love it,” he said. “We’ve now had a schedule where we’ve played every three days and we’re going to a schedule now where we’re probably going to play weekend to weekend – I’d rather play. As a keeper, I’m not putting in the same physically output as the outfield players, so it’s maybe a little bit different for me. I’ve got another year at Celtic after this, but again, when you get to that age, you’re just playing it by ear and not taking anything for granted because an injury could finish it all.

Kasper Schmeichel. Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

“I love football, I’ve always loved football, and going away from England really reaffirmed the fact that this is where I want to be. The opportunity of going to Celtic was a unique one for me because you’ve all played at clubs where you’re expected to win – I’ve never really played for those clubs where it’s an expectation to win. So, going to Celtic now, there’s that pressure of if you don’t win – if you just draw – it’s a catastrophe.”

UEFA Champions League Celtic Glasgow vs Young Boys Bern YB Celtic Park Glasgow. Kasper Schmeichel of Celtic. Photo Joeran Steiniek IMAGO

Kasper believes that signing for the Scottish Premiership Champions has brought his game to new heights, with that constant demand for perfection a real game-changer. He said: “It’s always elevated my game because now it’s not just about winning, it’s about being perfect. We don’t just have to win; we have to do it perfectly. Every action I do now – every bit of handling, every pass – everything has to be perfect now.”

Paul Gillespie