The Celtic striker knows upcoming matches could define the Hoops’ entire season.
Having exited the UEFA Champions League last week and followed it up with a poor performance against lower-league Dunfermline Athletic, there is a bit of pressure on Neil Lennon and his squad right now.
Results need to be delivered, and fast, with the schedule getting tougher and the meaning of each match growing.
Griffiths knows that both he and his teammates need to raise their game.
As quoted by The Scottish Sun, he said: “This is a huge couple of weeks for us. The play-offs against AIK are crucial, plus we have Hearts at home and Rangers away — that’s a defining period.
“If we can get through those four games by qualifying for the Europa League and taking full points from the Premiership fixtures, then we’ll be in good spirits. The alternative doesn’t bear thinking about.”
Of the three fixtures that Griffiths mentions, the upcoming European clash against Swedish outfit AIK is probably the most important.
Celtic missing out on the group stages of the UEFA Europa League would be a major blow to their finances and their ambitions this season.
On the back of the recent Cluj debacle, defeat would also severely weaken Neil Lennon’s position at the club.
The Hearts and Rangers matches are huge too of course, especially the latter, but Celtic would have time to play catch up in the Scottish Premiership if they go the wrong way.
The Hoops have backed themselves into a corner at the start of the season and they now have to fight their way out, or risk further serious questions about the future direction of the club.
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