In all his years with Celtic, none has been quite like this for James Forrest: no European qualifying rounds to negotiate, automatic entry to the Champions League group stage and a pre-season training camp to be enjoyed at the team’s leisure.
Not since 2017 have Celtic played in the Champions League proper. Not since 2008 have they been spared any kind of European qualifiers. This is the first time in Forrest’s long career that he and his team-mates have been able to do what they like, when they like, during pre-season.
Celtic’s first competitive game will be their Premiership opener on July 31. The Champions League draw will be on August 25. The first big night on that stage will be on September 6-7. In the meantime, they are making the most of a training camp in Austria, which started with a 7-0 stroll against Wiener Viktoria last midweek and continued with an entertaining draw at Rapid Vienna on Saturday.
Instead of negotiating awkward, season-defining European ties before they are ready, Celtic are filling July with half a dozen friendlies. The hope is that they will be fresher and better prepared when the lights go down and the Champions League anthem is played this autumn.
“It’s been five years,” says Forrest. “It feels as though we’ve not been there for a wee while, but once that first game comes around it will just feel that Celtic are meant to be in the Champions League with those big nights. A lot of the boys probably haven’t played in the Champions League so everyone will be buzzing.
“It’s class. Those four qualifiers, going to different places … I think it’s good for the club and for Scottish football that everybody can look forward to the draw and going straight into the groups. We’ve been everywhere [in qualifying rounds]. The game last Wednesday would probably have been a qualifier [in other seasons]. So it’s good for everyone that we get together over pre-season and the first game will be the first league game. We’ve not had that in a while.”
Where Celtic’s first friendly was just about getting the legs moving and giving game time to fringe players, their second was a proper test against Austrian top-flight opponents. In the Allianz Stadion at the weekend, Matt O’Riley, David Turnbull and Kyogo Furuhashi scored in a 3-3 draw with Rapid Vienna that was brisk and competitive enough to be a useful gauge for Ange Postecoglou as he assesses his side.
There were good things (Furuhashi transformed the attack with his movement in the second half) and there were bad (Joe Hart’s carelessness with the ball at his feet cost them a goal) but overall it was a significant step forward in their pre-season programme.
It comes as the manager continues his efforts to strengthen and streamline his squad. While he confirmed the club’s interest in St Mirren’s Dylan Reid, Postecoglou said the young midfielder would be for their academy. More pressing is his desire to sign two more first-team players and allow those who are surplus to requirements to depart. Ismaila Soro, who did not travel to Austria, has moved on a season-long loan to the Portuguese club, FC Arouka, who have an option to buy.
Next up for Celtic are Banik Ostrava in Czech Republic on Wednesday night. On their return to Scotland, they will face Blackburn Rovers, followed by Legia Warsaw and Norwich City. Between those challenges, they will work on their fitness and their tactics in the kind of environment that Forrest has become used to every summer.
The winger who has won 20 trophies at Celtic understands how important it is to lay the foundations. He has as much appetite as ever, even if this is his 13th pre-season at the club. “You get tired just thinking about that,” he laughs. “That’s why it’s good that I wasn’t away with the international team this year. It was maybe a good chance to get a bit of recovery in because it’s something I’ve not really had. I’ll try to have a good pre-season and get as many games as I can.
“I turned 31 on Thursday, but I love being here and I wouldn’t want to be here if I was just plodding along. I want to keep trying to help the team, keep trying to win stuff and play as much as I can.”
Forrest signed a new three-year deal just after Celtic won the title last season. Despite his lifelong service to the club, there is strong competition on the wings and he acknowledges the need to prove himself again. Assuming he does, there is every chance he will see out his career at Celtic.
“I was delighted to sign my deal, and I think it was good for me and the club, but I don’t want to just say that I’ll stay here for the sake of staying here. I want to win more things and play as much as I can, and if that means staying here for the rest of my career, then I’d be happy with that.”
Meanwhile, Furuhashi says his target is to score at least 20 goals this season and become the most prolific player in the cinch Premiership.
Last season, the Celtic striker, got 12 in an injury-hit campaign, one fewer than team-mate, Giorgos Giakoumakis, who was the league’s joint top-scorer. Now, the Japan front man is aiming to seize that honour from Giakoumakis and in the process help Celtic to build on their double-winning campaign under Postecoglou.
“We have good team-mates and supporters and I think that is why we can do better than last season,” said Furuhashi. “Personally, I would like to get good numbers. I want a minimum of 20 goals. Last season Giako got his title, but I had opportunities. It would be nice to get that result.”
