Anthony Ralston enjoyed a Silent Night while Celtic pals partied at the Ally Pally
The Celtic squad went into Christmas party mode after the Premier Sports Cup triumph.
But it was more of a Silent Night for Anthony Ralston.
While the rest of the Hoops let their hair down – with a group enjoying a night at the darts – the defender was tucked up in bed preparing for his four-year-old daughter Mila’s nativity show the next morning.
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Ralston was happy with Away in a Manager but now the celebrations have died down he wants Celtic to remain out of danger in the Premiership title race.
The 26-year-old said: “Aye, the majority of the boys did! I had my wee girl’s nursery nativity at 9am in the morning. I was watching her be a wee angel in her Christmas show. I cut my party short! But the lads took it in and enjoyed it, which is important you do in these moments in your career.
“She was smiling ear to ear when she saw me in the front row.
“Her and the rest of her class were brilliant, it was a really well put together show.
“I was buzzing with it. I tried to take her to Smyths for a wee toy afterwards but I think she was knackered!”
Ralston and his Parkhead pals know how she felt. They put in a lung-busting shift over two hours and penalty kicks to their hands on the League Cup trophy.
The full back – who came off the bench at Hampden early in the second half – said: “As long as we won the trophy, I wasn't really bothered about how you do it. Obviously it was a dramatic ending. It's about how much we wanted to win it in the end and we pushed right through to the end.
“When it comes down to penalties, Kasper (Schmeichel) did amazingly make the save, and the boys who stepped up and showed the courage to take the penalty and put them away, is ultimately how we won it.”
Ralston was too busy watching the show to pay too much attention to the fallout – with Rangers left raging at the non award of a penalty kick call.
The Scotland man insisted the controversy hasn’t taken any shine off the cup win.
He said: “Personally, I don't think so. I think as players, after the game, or even at the time, there was an on-field decision made from the officials, which has nothing to do with us.
“At the time, I feel there wasn't much said about it
then obviously, given the result, there was more said. But I don't think it takes anything away from winning the trophy.
“I think, as us as players, and from a personal point of view, the main thing for us is that we got our hands on the trophy, which we did, and then everything that comes after that, especially in football, there's going to be opinions and views, which is fine. But it's nothing to do with us.”
Ralston was just delighted to add to his impressive Celtic medal collection – with the stalwart now up to an incredible 13 major honours.
Not that he’ll stand around admiring them for too long.
Ralson said: “I keep them in my house, keep them in a safe place but I think as well it's important that you do enjoy them, and you do take it in.
“For example, at the weekend it was such a big game, and to be involved in it, and to get our hands on the trophy, you spend the time with your family, your friends, the couple of days that I spoke about and really take it in.
“But when you're at a club like this, you demand so much success, the next challenge is only around the corner, given the weekend.
“So your success is very much put behind you very quickly and that's what I'm saying in terms of thinking about medals, or how many you've got, or anything like that.
“There's just no time to do that, and it's about you've got the next one. “Sunday's a part of our challenge that we want to complete, which is the league.
“So there's always a next challenge around the corner at a club like this, and that's why it's put behind us, and we're ready to go again.”
Ralston knows there celebrations can’t last too long anyway. The games are coming thick and fast over the festive period and this is a time of year where massive inroads can be made towards the title.
Celts face Dundee United on Tayside on Sunday before home clashes on Boxing Day and next weekend against Motherwell and St Johnstone.
A rare Parkhead run out on the 26th will allow the Hoops squad to stay in their own beds on Christmas night – but Ralston knows this time of year is strictly business.
He said: “It’s important. We have come through such a busy period of games and the boys have done well in terms of grinding out results.
“It’s hard when you have such a busy schedule. When you are at a club of this magnitude there are no excuses or things you can put in the way of success.
“It doesn’t matter how many games you’ve got. We have a big squad and talented played to take on the challenge head on, whether it’s the Champions League, the league or the cups.
“We got in to each game aiming to get a result and for the most part that’s what we’ve managed to do.
“We have another busy spell but there’s no excuses – we’ll take it head on.
“Christmas is always busy but if you come out the other side with results you are in a good place.”
