JOE Hart has spoken of his personal pride at leading Celtic out in the Champions League match against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu this week and admitted it was one of the greatest experiences of his career.
The former England internationalist donned the captain’s armband after Cameron Carter-Vickers, who had taken over from Callum McGregor after the midfielder picked up an injury last month, was ruled out.
Ange Postecoglou’s men slumped to a 5-1 defeat to Carlo Ancelotti’s superstars in their final Group F outing in Spain on Wednesday night – but goalkeeper Hart still enjoyed the experience and was honoured to be made skipper.
“It was amazing,” he said. “I am a professional, but I am always able to remove myself from the person who has a job to do and remember where I am from.
“I remember who I am, where I grew up and what my aspirations were as a kid - to enjoy playing football. To get an opportunity to lead a great club like Celtic out at the Bernabeu? You need to remove yourself and take those moments in.
“It was one of the many amazing things I have been lucky enough to do in my career. I will probably appreciate them all even more when I am not playing football.
“I can never escape the professional in me and ultimately it was a result I was after, not anything else. But right now, that is gone I want to be part of the team on Saturday and keep us pushing at the top of the league.”
Hart is determined to help Celtic win the cinch Premiership and get into the Champions League group stages again next season and is keen for them to get back to winning ways against Dundee United at Parkhead this afternoon.
The 35-year-old stressed that he and his team mates will take the United game just as seriously as the Real match.
“There is plenty to look at but this is not a ‘look back’ kind of scenario,” he said. “We live in the moment.
“We debrief and we analyse, but we are also all on the same page that we need to behave like it’s the Champions League daily.
“That is how we will hopefully get back there next season and be able to compete. That is the message and that is how we feel. The manager gives that message and the players believe in it.
“We have simple things to do but we have to do it every single day and make it part of what we do.
“No game is more crucial than any other at Celtic. You know how we do it here. You need to live in the moment and we have to be all out, with focus and be ready to go. Hopefully that will be enough to get results.”
