Joe Ledley believes Celtic's summer recruits will still be feeling the aftershocks of back-to-back Old Firm losses, but insists they must recover and learn to embrace the pressure at Parkhead. The former Celtic midfielder, who spent four years in Glasgow, knows the scale of the club and the constant demands to perform. He says the intensity is cranked up another notch in derby matches, and a couple of bruising defeats will have left a mark.
Ledley has a word of advice for the new batch as they look to get back off the canvas against Motherwell this weekend, following three weeks of stewing on a Rangers double whammy.
Shock to the system
Ledley said: "It's always tough when you first arrive at Celtic. It is a shock to the system – 100 percent. The winning mentality you need to have is unlike what you will experienced at most other clubs. When I first arrived, it took me a few months to deal with that and understand what was expected of me."
"It can be difficult to hit the ground running at a club of that size. But what a feeling it is to play for Celtic under that pressure. You need to embrace and buy in to what is expected of you. The reason you become a professional is to play at the highest level in games that mean so much to so many people. Celtic is the type of club you strive to play for and I am sure the new boys will embrace it – and learn to enjoy it as well."
There wasn't much enjoyable for Hoops players or fans about the last week before the international break. The Champions League exit at the hands of LASK was a sore one, but it was domestic bliss until Celtic rocked up at Ibrox for the Premier Sports Cup. A hefty hammering in Govan was quickly followed by another European dull one by Ferencvaros and then the woeful Premiership reverse on home soil to the old foes.
Pressure off the pitch
Any early season enthusiasm went right out of the window to leave Celtic back in a misery cycle that's in danger of spinning out of hand again. The protests from last season have re-appeared again this year – with Parkhead powerbroker Dermot Desmond's annual golf jolly at the Dunhill Links Championship targeted by a handful of angry balaclava-clad fans who pelted him with tennis balls. The act provoked a nuclear response from Celtic – with plenty of clues in the unnamed club statement on Saturday night that it was either penned or influenced by the Irish business tycoon.
It seems the club is once again on the brink of an uncivil war but there are enough problems on the pitch for the players to contend with. Ledley admitted the newcomers will need time to settle in Scotland – but it's not always a luxury many are afforded.
Patience and belief
He said: "You sometimes need a period to understand the club, what it means to so many people and the pressure and expectation. On top of that, many of them will probably be getting used to a different style of play. They all have to be given a lot more time to really settle."
"There has to be an element of patience with all new players. Camilo Duran started really well and hopefully he continues that after the break, because he looks like a top player. I am sure that other new signings will also begin to improve too. I am convinced results will pick up again and I also expect Celtic to win the title."
It's easy to forget Celtic are still actually top of the league given the anguish on the back of their week from hell. The shift in momentum across the city has punters worried though but Ledley is convinced his old club can wrestle it back. He was part of a Celts side who looked dead and buried in 2011/12 – but roared back to claim the title when Rangers were plunged into financial crisis.
He said: "That's football. There are lots of ups and downs in a single season. I remember being 15 points behind Rangers one season and we fought back to overtake them within a few months. I scored a header against them when we went top and we never looked back."
"I look at Celtic being top of the league and that is a basis to go and kick on after the break. Martin also has really good senior pros in his squad, in the likes of Callum McGregor, Kieran Tierney and James Forrest. Those guys are key to everything that happens."
"They are the cornerstone of the club and they will be having a chat to everyone and ensure they know what is expected at a club like Celtic. I have been watching the games and we all know that the week before the international break was disappointing. But there is still such a long way to go and let's remember, Celtic are top of the league."
"Hopefully the boys can bounce back with a win against Motherwell after the break and they can pick up the form they showed in the first few weeks of the season. That's what we are used to seeing from Celtic and I am sure they can get that back."
Back in Glasgow
Ledley was back in Glasgow at the weekend and he admitted he got a kick pulling on the Hoops for the Tennents Sixes. He said: "It's always magical to pull the Celtic strip back on. It was great to be back and team up with the older players. Celtic is still a club that means so much to me, and it's always an honour to represent them. I still follow the results and I was happy to come up and play the game."
