I’ll never compare with Celtic icon says Anthony Ralston – but I can’t wait to TEASE him after breaking a record of his
IT was Brendan Rodgers who first compared him to Danny McGrain.
While flattered, Anthony Ralston doubts he’ll ever reach the same levels.
Yet the Scotland star still can’t wait to wind McGrain up after discovering he’s already surpassed him in one key area.
The Celtic legend scored just nine times in a glittering 18-year career.
Ralston has hit seven for the Hoops — including five last season — with his overall career tally now standing at ten.
They are impressive stats for a full-back.
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And, as he bid to add to his Hoops haul this season, Ralston reflected: “I hadn’t realised I’ve now scored more goals than Danny — I’ll need to mention it to him. He’ll love that.
“I don’t think I’ll ever reach Danny’s levels but at least that’s something I can have over him.
“It was nice to get compared to him but the one thing I’ve never done is get carried away over things that get said.
“I keep myself grounded and I have good people around me to keep my feet on the ground.
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“I’m not sure how Danny felt about being compared to me.
“I managed to get a few goals last season.
“There were some individual moments but most important is what we did as a team.
“There were big moments throughout the season and everyone, to a man, stepped up
“That’s why we are champions. It’s about the team rather than individuals.”
As well as bidding to retain their Premiership crown, Celtic are looking to make an impact in Europe.
Ange Postecoglou’s side are set for a return to the group stages of the Champions League.
Ralston admitted: “That has to be the next step for us all as a team.
“We’ve got the group stages this season and we’ll come up against the best teams in the world. We need to be ready for that challenge. There’s a lot to play for as always and we need everyone together. We’re on a good path.”
If they are to go toe-to-toe with Europe’s best, Celtic will need both Kyogo Furuhashi and Giorgos Giakoumakis fit and firing.
Both played pivotal roles last season as Celts wrestled the title back off Rangers.
Ralston said: “They are both very talented players. They were very influential for us last season and you can see they are doing it again in pre-season.
“It’s exciting having the pair of them and hopefully they can do it again.
“We’ve got great attacking players and we’re a very attacking side. We are a dangerous side, but we know we need to keep improving, working on our strengths and weaknesses.”
A year ago, Celtic were hammered at home by West Ham.
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David Moyes’ side inflicted a humiliating 6-2 defeat with the alarm bells ringing for many Hoops fans.
Celtic then failed to win any of their first three matches — crashing out of the Champions League in the process.
Yet Postecoglou would go on to defy his critics, and the odds, by leading Celts to title glory.
And while Ralston is hoping the Hoops can get one over on Blackburn at Parkhead today, he insists match sharpness is more important.
He said: “The West Ham game last year was a bit of a learning curve for us.
“We had a lot of young boys playing and we were getting used to a new system. We had to take it on the chin. The gaffer knew we’d kick on and it just shows you how things work out.
“Pre-season is about getting game time and match fitness, as well as gelling as a team.
“It’s about implementing our style of play and you sometimes need a few learning curves along the way at this stage.
“We will up our performance again against Blackburn.
“The gaffer is looking for us to keep improving.
“We’ve started very well in pre-season and we want to continue in that way.”
Celtic are back in Glasgow having toured Austria and the Czech Republic.
Ralston said: “It has been good to get the boys back together and we’ve picked up where we left off last season in terms of the standards we expect to hit in training and in the matches.
“It’s good the new lads have had a bit of time to settle in and the others from abroad who arrived last year now have got a taste for it over the course of last season.
“It’s a lot more settled and we are ready to kick on for the start of the season.
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“We’ve had some good games under our belt and we’ve shown we are an aggressive team.
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“The work will continue this weekend and, by the time the season comes, we’ll be ready to go.”
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