MusaCharlie Mulgrew has shared his thoughts on the ongoing debate surrounding Celtic’s goalkeeping situation ahead of Sunday’s clash with Hibernian.
Following Kasper Schmeichel’s performance against Stuttgart, questions have resurfaced about whether Viljami Sinisalo deserves an opportunity. The experienced Dane was at the centre of crucial moments in the Europa League defeat, and by the end of the match, some fans had begun to voice their discontent.
Sinisalo has made only a handful of appearances this season and, while solid enough when called upon, has yet to enjoy a consistent run in the team.
According to Mulgrew, the decision ultimately lies with Martin O’Neill and his coaching team, who have the benefit of observing both keepers daily in training at Lennoxtown.
Speaking to Premier Sports, Mulgrew said: “Well, Martin O’Neill and his staff see him every day in training, so he must not be doing quite enough. In the games he has played, he’s been fine—no major mistakes—but he hasn’t done enough to take the spot from Kasper Schmeichel.
“And as a manager, when you make that kind of call—especially with someone like Martin O’Neill—it sends a message through the whole dressing room. Schmeichel is a big presence in there, so if you’re going to drop him, you have to be certain it’s the right move.
“The longer this goes on, I think he might be losing a bit of confidence. You could hear a few boos at the end when he was on the ball. That’s never nice.
“He’s not making these errors on purpose. He’s training hard every day, desperate to make those saves and establish himself as Celtic’s number one.
“Right now, things just aren’t clicking for him. He’ll be devastated after tonight.”
Dressing room dynamics can’t be ignored. Schmeichel carries weight in the squad, both as a vocal leader and one of the more experienced players. Dropping him would be a significant move.
Still, form has to factor in. If errors continue to creep in, scrutiny will only grow.
O’Neill now faces a choice ahead of Sunday. He can stick with experience and back Schmeichel to bounce back. Or he can hand Sinisalo the gloves and see how he responds. Either way, the man in goal will be under the spotlight from the very first whistle at Celtic Park.
Musa
