Alistair Johnston is refusing to rest on his laurels despite Celtic’s strong lead in the Scottish Premiership and remains cautious about the potential threat posed by Rangers.
The right-back played 70 minutes in Sunday’s pulsating Premier Sports Cup final before being substituted.
The Glasgow derby was a dramatic affair, with the momentum shifting throughout a frenetic 120 minutes. Ultimately, Celtic triumphed on penalties after a 3-3 draw, securing the trophy in an emotionally charged encounter.
Speaking after the game, Johnston admitted that under normal circumstances, he would not have played due to injury.
However, understanding the significance of the occasion, the Canadian defender pushed the medical team to get him ready for the match.
Reflecting on the league campaign, Johnston highlighted the team’s underlying confidence but was quick to temper any sense of complacency when asked about the title race.
Celtic currently sit nine points ahead of second-place Aberdeen, with a game in hand, and maintain an 11-point lead over Rangers. Despite the commanding position, Johnston remains cautious.
“The league is still early,” he told the Glasgow Times.
“We’re in December, and there’s a long way to go. I think last year was a perfect example of that. We had a pretty solid lead then we threw it away and managed to claw it back at the very end.
“There’s going to be twists and turns. We can only really focus on ourselves.”
While Celtic’s focus remains inward, Johnston acknowledged that Rangers, under Philippe Clement, are likely to improve in the second half of the season.
“We’re expecting [Rangers] to kick on as well,” Johnston said.
“Over the past couple of weeks they have done, but we know if we play our best football it’s really all about us at the end of the day.”
With their current consistency, Celtic look well-placed to retain the Premiership trophy in May.
However, as Johnston points out, the season is far from over, and the team cannot afford to lose focus. The Bhoys remain in a commanding position, but there is still a long journey ahead.
