‘Playing for Celtic – Kasper loves it,’ says Erik Sviatchenko

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The Celtic Star

·24 April 2025

‘Playing for Celtic – Kasper loves it,’ says Erik Sviatchenko

Erik Sviatchenko believes Celtic helped reignite Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s passion for the game and reckons the same thing happened to Joe Hart…

UEFA Champions League 2024 2025, Celtic Glasgow vs Young Boys Bern YB Celtic Park. Kasper Schmeichel cheers Celtic’s 1- 0 victory. Photo JOERAN STEINSIEK (IMAGO)

High expectations at a club like Celtic

The ex-Celtic centre-back claims that the high expectations at the club reestablished a youthful energy in both Kasper Schmeichel and Joe Hart, allowing them to rediscover their love for football late in their careers.

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Joe Hart celebrates after Celtic beat theRangers in the 2024 Scottish Cup Final. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

A close friend of Schmeichel, the former Danish international is hopeful the goalkeeper can overcome his shoulder injury and be ready to feature in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park on Saturday 24 May against Aberdeen.

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Erik now plays his football in The States

Now 33 and playing for MLS outfit Houston Dynamo, Erik Sviatchenko – who was a member of Brendan Rodgers’ ‘Invincible Treble’ winning Celtic team in 2016/17 – says Schmeichel is thriving in Glasgow and hopes to see him contribute to another treble triumph for the Hoops.

James Forrest congratulates Erik Sviatchenko during the 2-0 win at Celtic Park over Ross County on 28 December 2016. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Erik said: “You can ask Kasper Schmeichel how he feels about playing for Celtic. He loves it.”

“He is a great example of a player who was running around at Anderlecht and drifting a bit as he brought the curtain down on his career. Kasper missed the feeling for football that playing for a British or Scottish club like Celtic brings. You saw it first with Joe Hart, and you are now seeing it again with Kasper.”

‘You can’t relax at Celtic’

“It is no coincidence that both players rediscovered their hunger for the game after being given an opportunity with Celtic. The two players will have been delighted to sign for a club like Celtic that makes demands of you always. You can’t relax at Celtic. They are pushed by the club, the fans and the manager to do better.”

Kasper Scheichel and Callum McGregor ahead of kick-off. Dens Park, Dundee v Celtic. 14th January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

‘Joe and Kasper got their careers back at Celtic’

“Joe and Kasper got their careers back at Celtic, and that says a lot about the desire of both players who played under a manager in Brendan Rodgers, who continually asks them to be the best they can be. Kasper is a great friend, and I am desperate to see him return to the team and hopefully be part of another Treble-winning side. I hope he will get fit for the Scottish Cup final and that he gets the chance to experience what I did. If not, I’m sure the guys will do it for him.”

Conor Spence

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