Kasper Schmeichel has outlined the relationship he looks forward to nurturing from hereon at Celtic, now that the veteran goalkeeper has made his competitive debut for the club.
The Dane kept a clean sheet in the Hoops' 4-0 dismantling of Kilmarnock last Sunday, and now is fully-focused on the next stretch of fixtures – which includes contests in the league, the Scottish League Cup, a Glasgow derby and the Champions League during the next six weeks.
Schmeichel has so far looked just as confident with the ball at his feet as he has with it in his hands, and now the 37-year-old reckons building a rapport with his colleagues in front of him – not least Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales in the heart of defence – is of paramount importance.
"It’s a relationship," said Schmeichel. "Last season at Anderlecht was something completely new for me. I had to play a different role, on the right of a three, higher than the defender. I played in the middle of a three as well, That was a really great learning curve for me as well.
"It’s something I’ve always liked doing, something I’ve always enjoyed doing and I’ve always made a point - particularly when I was younger - to train with the outfielders.
"I’m not a fan of keepers being on one side and the outfielders being on the other. The outfielders have to feel confident that they can give me the ball whatever way they want and I will deal with it."
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Schmeichel added: "That’s not to say that they should - it’s about playing forward. But I’m there as an option available to them. It’s my job to be in there, be available and help wherever I can.
"In modern football, that is the role of a goalkeeper. You touch the ball a lot more with your feet than your hands."
