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Liam Scales admits it’s his dream on the Champions League pitch.
And the fan of Celtic’s formative years is determined to ensure there are many more magical moments to come by landing a new long-term contract at Paradise. Scales has been a revelation this season since returning from his loan year at Aberdeen. His performances have also been recognised overseas, where the 25-year-old has made three international appearances for Ireland.
Earlier this month, Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers opened the door to a new deal for the defender who has 18 months left on his current contract. Addressing Scales’ question, Rodgers admitted that “I don’t do well when players are in the final stages of their contracts. ” It remains to be seen whether the board of directors has understood the trail in the coming weeks. But Scales, who is said to have caught the eye of Anderlecht, is hoping to win more big European nights by extending his contract. stay in the east of Glasgow.
He said, “Yes, definitely. I love it here right now. As an Irish kid, it’s where I’d like to be and play regularly. I’m satisfied here and I wouldn’t need to leave in a hurry. “
“He’s the happiest player I’ve been in football in the last few months, playing every week. If I can do this for as long as possible, then it will be great. “
“But I put those things (contracts) in the back of my brain and let other people take care of them so I can get on with what’s going on on the court. It’s wonderful to hear the coach say that. It shows that I’ve been inspired and I’ve done what I was looking for: sign for the team and play regularly.
The next opportunity comes tonight on a colossal stage, with Celtic knowing their European hopes in Rome are decisive. It is the latest stop on a whirlwind tour of some of Europe’s most notable grounds, including Madrid’s Metropolitano, where Celtic won a Spanish championship. lesson from Morata, Griezmann and company, and the Amsterdam Arena where Scales and Ireland were felled by a Dutch front line that included Cody Gakpo and Xavi Simmons.
Two fatal defeats. But the kind of evening Scales will never take for granted as he prepares to take on Ciro Immobile. He said: “It’s been wonderful. The stadiums have been incredible and overall betting on those venues, as opposed to those pools, has been a wonderful experience.
“It’s the pinnacle of club football and I think the dream of each and every player is to play in the Champions League. To be here on this stage and play against those big clubs in those stadiums, it’s a dream to be there. ” . fair.
“I take it into account and try to take it in as much as imaginable and enjoy it as much as possible, because you never know how many games you’re going to play in the Champions League. I just need to make the most of this opportunity.
“Obviously we have to win the game to have any chance of staying in Europe until after Christmas and that’s what we’re here for. We try to prepare each and every game to win, but now we know it’s all or nothing. “We die, we win, or we are eliminated.
“It motivates you to do your best. It’s been tough, but we’re going to keep going. “
To give themselves a chance, Celtic will have to do what they haven’t done in their last two visits to Feyenoord and Atletico: stay with 11 men in the park. Scales believes that the margin for error when it comes to creating demanding situations is shrinking with referees. in Europa. De fact, he knows it after being a reframe for Shamrock Rovers in a Champions League qualifier.
The goalkeeper, who sports a cut above his head after a collision with Motherwell’s Mika Biereth on Saturday, said: “I’ve picked it up in every single European game I’ve played. At Shamrock I was sent off in a Champions League qualifier and I would have gotten away with it in the league.
“You have to be very, very careful. I remind myself of that constantly during the game. Once you receive a yellow card, you can’t make another tackle. Against Atletico, that was the deciding factor. We were trailing 1-0 at the time of the sending-off, but once that happened, the game calmed down and they were in absolute control.
“Then we said it was a lesson learned. You can’t move into those positions and still expect to have a chance with 10 men. These groups are ruthless. I wouldn’t say our players were undisciplined, I would just say I want to be more careful.
“Against Lazio at home, I think in the first half we were definitely the better team. The way it ended, scoring a disallowed goal and then conceding something out of time, is hard to take in. Probably the hardest we’ve had this year.
“I think we all need to win and show that we can do it at this level. We know we can, get closer, and it’s just a matter of being ruthless and crossing the line.
Do that and some other historic occasion may be coming with a scheduled meeting with the pope at the Vatican. Scales said, “If that happens, I’ll be delighted. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. “