Celtic keeper Craig Gordon speaks on the importance of the winter break to help rejuvenate the squad after a brutal first half of the season
Craig Gordon has played 42 competitive Celtic games already this season, more than he has played in total most seasons in his career
Craig Gordon has explained how crucial his side’s winter training trip to Dubai has been in terms of allowing the squad a proper chance to rejuvenate after a brutal first half of the season.
So far this term the Scotland international, 35, has featured in 42 competitive matches, more than he has played in total most seasons in his decade and a half as a professional.
With nine fixtures in November, Brendan Rodgers’ men were clearly jaded going into December, a month which saw their emphatic 69-game domestic unbeaten run ended by a 4-0 thrashing from Hearts at Tynecastle.
Celtic uncharacteristically struggled at home in December against a spirited Rangers side
The year ended on a further sour note, as the Bhoys were unable to put the ball in the back of the net against a spirited Rangers side who outshone their arch rivals at Celtic Park in a goalless draw on 30 December.
Speaking about the upcoming European knock-out fixtures Gordon said: “We need to get back to winning games at home. If we are going back to two-legged ties we need to start winning games at home.
“We have known how to deal with the pressures of the away goal situation. There are a lot of things that come into play in knock-out football which change things a little.”
Celtic were humbled on two occasions by PSG in the Champions League group stage this season losing 5-0 and 7-1
Gordon is right in the fact that Celtic have found themselves in tricky situations in two-legged ties in recent years, only to silence critics and come back to make it through the rounds.
These rounds, however, tend to be qualifiers against lesser opposition and, when tested against the best in the European group stages, they have struggled.
Nevertheless, Gordon expressed the importance of maintaining a positive atmosphere around the squad on their trip to Dubai ahead of the second half of the season, explaining that it was crucial to get some proper development time as opposed to squeezing in recovery and training in between games in months such as November.
Celtic are feeling fresh and raring to go after winter training trip away according to Craig Gordon
“When there are so many games then you have to recover,” Gordon said, “you have to prepare for the next game and there is not the same chance to do a lot of detailed work.
“This is a good coaching wee for the players. It will let us refocus and look at the things we are good at and have another think about the way that the manager wants us to play.”
The Bhoys return to action at the end of this month in a Scottish Cup tie against Brechin City.
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