Sinisalo can challenge Schmeichel for the gloves this season

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·27 juillet 2025

Sinisalo can challenge Schmeichel for the gloves this season

Kasper Schmeichel remains the undoubted number one at Celtic, but Viljami Sinisalo has significantly closed the gap and will certainly have our Great Dane on his toes this season…

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel reacts during the pre-season friendly match between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on July 19, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Kasper Schmeichel is our undoubted first choice pick between the sticks. He may be getting on a bit, but his experience as well as his ability not only in the shot stopping stakes, but his assurance with the ball at his feet make him Brendan’s first choice in possession of the gloves.

Vidéos OneFootball

He had his moments last season and dropped a couple of clangers, most notably in the Scottish Cup Final which allowed Aberdeen to equalise and ultimately go onto win the game, but show me a keeper who is immune from making a mistake?

Kasper overall was superb for us last campaign, in Europe and domestically as he helped us clinch four in a row as well as having a massive say in us defeating theRangers to win the Premier Sports League Cup.

Shin Yamada and Viljami Sinisalo of Celtic FC celebrate the victory at the end of the Como Cup match between Al-Ahli and Celtic FC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on July 26, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

His understudy Viljami Sinisalo has also impressed in the few appearances he’s made for the club, and that continued in yesterday evenings penalty shootout win over Al – Ahli were he looked commanding and assured throughout the game. Both in the shot stopping and distribution stakes.

The biggest compliment I could give the Finish international is that we would have won the treble had he continued to deputise for Kasper at the end of last season. That’s my own opinion, and one I firmly believe.

Viljami Sinisalo. at Ibrox. theRangers v Celtic, 4 May 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

It’s good to have a number two goalie who will keep Kasper on his toes so to speak as we enter the new campaign, one who has a very good chance of eventually making the number one position his very own.

This time last year Sinisalo was a rookie but nice he has experienced playing for Celtic and we know that he can handle the pressures involved. He’s started at both Pittodrie and Ibrox so would be unfazed and being asked to do so again. It’s clear that the gap between our two keepers has arrowed significantly and that is no bad thing.

For the start Kasper will have the gloves but he has real competition for his place this season and that can only be a good thing for Brendan Rodgers and Celtic.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Read this – The backstory to Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter

Thank you to everyone who has already pre-ordered the late David Potter’s last ever Celtic book, Celtic in the Eighties, which will be published on the fifth day of September by Celtic Star Books. The link to pre-order your copy is below…

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, out 5 September 2025. Available to pre-order now.

Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image to join.