John Kennedy didn’t take it personally when he took stick for Celtic’s leaky defence during the failed 10 in a Row bid a couple of seasons ago. So he’s not going to get carried away with getting plaudits for the water-tight Hoops backline these days.
The Parkhead coach copped some flak during the covid hit campaign when Neil Lennon lost his job and he was left to mind the fort until Ange Postecoglou arrived in the summer. In fairness, no one at the club escaped the wrath of the punters during a season where everything that could go wrong invariably did, but as a former defender, the assistant coach bizarrely found himself in the firing line at times whenever Celts conceded.
It’s changed days now. Kennedy was never just a defensive coach and still isn’t under Postecoglou. But there’s no doubt the Celtic rear guard is a different animal now – with the best record in Scotland in the last two season.
Kennedy has earned plaudits from the Hoops boss and the punters but he takes it with the same pinch of salt. He’s just happy to be part of a winning coaching team and is looking to maintain the fine form as the campaign heads in to the business end.
Kennedy said: “I’ve been here too long to accept any praise! I know what happens next week if we lose a goal or a game! I think sometimes because of the position you played, people relate that area of the game to you. But the focus is very much on improving individuals but also on all areas of the team.
“My job is to support the manager but a large part of the job I do is on the training pitch, doing analysis, working with the players on a daily basis, along with Gavin Strachan, Harry Kewell and (keeper coach) Stevie Woods. We’ve got a very strong staff here who all have a real focus on developing the players.
“The first team is always about results, but we have players here who are continually working to improve themselves. I’ve worked in academies where that is the primary focus and the first team has only been about results. But here’s it’s also about developing the players alongside that.”
It’s clearly working. Celtic are miles in front in the Premiership, into the last eight of the Scottish Cup and are gearing up to take on Rangers in the Viaplay Cup Final a week on Sunday. Hoops fans rave about the attacking flair in a team that’s rattled more than 100 goals already this season.
But Kennedy knows the thrilling attacking form is built on solid foundations. Celtic kept six clean sheets on the bounce following the 2-2 draw at Ibrox at New Year and the only goals conceded in recent weeks have been consolation efforts when the side has been up the other end of the park hunting for more.
Cameron Carter-Vickers was a rock again at the weekend and while Celts managed to eventually put five past St Mirren, it could have been a much more awkward affair if the big USA international hadn’t produced a typically dominant display. The former Spurs man has formed an impressive partnership with Carl Starfelt and with Yuki Kobayashi and Stephen Welsh waiting in the wings, Kennedy reckons the Parkhead backline is in formidable shape.
He said: “It’s good to have two strong characters like Cameron and Carl. They have been key to the stability at the back. They’ve played a lot together and you can see the relationship blossoming. It will get even better in time.
"Alongside that we have Yuki, who has looked good since he has come in, and Stephen Welsh has also contributed a lot as well. The squad is in a good place defensively. There’s been some rotation and changes at times but everyone has come in and contributed.
“The manager has instilled in the team the fact it doesn’t matter if you play 10 minutes or 90 minutes, you have to contribute to the team.”
Kennedy takes pride in the defensive record – but he insisted he’s happier when the side is on the front foot. The backline have been doing the business, but the key to the success have been the entire team working as a unit.
Kennedy said: “It’s part of the function of the team. I get much more excited when the play is at the other end and the team is scoring goals.
“But a large part of how we play is how we defend as a team. We meet teams head on at the top end of the pitch. That has been key to not conceding or giving up many chances. It’s the attitude they show.
“It’s very easy to kind of take it easy at times, think, ‘I’ll not make that run, or press as hard as I have been’, and before you know it you are defending your box. The guys have kept the foot down in that respect and maintained the intensity.
“We always start with a real intent to press because it leads to a lot of our attacking success. It’s about the whole team and not just the defenders. But at the same time, the guys at the back have done a terrific job – just as well as the attacking players who score the goals.”
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