Kasper Schmeichel's new Celtic song tells you what the fans are thinking as 40ft banner showed him shoes he had to fill
The sight of a 40ft banner of the player on his last day in the office was a clear sign there was going to be a huge hole to deal with in the Celtic squad last summer.
But Paulo Bernardo reckons the giant personality of Kasper Schmeichel has more than managed to fill it. It’s not often one fan favourite departs and is immediately replaced by another. But the great Dane has picked up the gloves left behind by Joe Hart and carved out instant-hero status among the Hoops support.
The former Man City and Leicester shotstopper was already well on his way after a string of top performances and an incredible shutout record in the opening half of the season that includes 12 clean sheets in his opening 15 Premiership games. Chuck in the displays in the Champions League and Parkhead punters had already adapted an old Wham festive favourite to serenade the big keeper.
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Last Christmas they gave it to Hart but this year the affections belong to Schmeichel and while the former No.1 got an incredible send off in May, fans are now hoping the new man sticks around and Brendan Rodgers doesn’t hang around in hitting the button on that one-year contract extension option.
The Yuletide ditty rang out again around Hampden after the 38-year-old grabbed his place in the Hoops history books with a sensational shootout stop to deny Ridvan Yilmaz on the back of an incredible save in the game to keep out Mo Diomande. Bernardo expected nothing less and he knows Celtic have got the perfect man to ease the Hoops Hart-ache.
The Portuguese playmaker said: “Kasper is one of the leaders of our team. He has so much experience. You look at everything he has achieved in his career and we can learn so much from him, he is a leader and is someone that we can look up to.
“We lost Joe in the summer but Kasper has come in and been amazing for the club. He is a great team-mate, he is a big personality and he has been a great signing for us.
“Kasper has done very well for us since coming in at the start of the season. He has kept a lot of clean sheets and in big moments, he has been so important. We can rely on Kasper in important times. He has shown that all season. His penalty save was amazing but we know that we can count on him in every game.”
Schmeichel played a huge part in Sunday’s dramatic triumph – but he wasn’t alone. Celtic might not have quite hit top gear but they still had enough to hold off a Rangers charge and get the job done on the day.
Bernardo is getting used to the winning feeling at Parkhead with a third medal in 18 months. And while he didn’t join the Hoops party posse down watching the darts at the Ally Pally, he still lapped up all the celebrations. Bernardo said: “It was a great day and personally I am very happy to win another trophy with this great club.
“It was a really good moment for us and the celebrations were great after it. We came back to the stadium to see the fans and we had a nice time with the squad too.
“I didn’t go down to the darts. I just preferred to stay home and rest! But it was good for them and they enjoyed watching it, and maybe even playing. It was a good break for the guys.”
Not that it lasted too long. Rodgers told his squad – actually he demanded – that they had to enjoy their success on Sunday. There’s not much point in picking up silverware if you don’t get the chance to soak it in, even for a few days. But the afterglow doesn’t last too long. The Celtic squad are back to work on Wednesday and a line has been drawn under their Hampden success.
It’s a mentality Bernardo is right on board with. The midfielder has become a major member of the Celtic success drive, whether it’s in the starting line-up or coming off the bench.
The 22-year-old isn’t one to throw the toys out of the pram whenever his manager decides to rotate as he knows it’s a squad game and there’s quality at every turn in the Parkhead group. Right now, Bernardo is keeping Celtic’s record £11million signing Arne Engels out of the team and the drive to stay there is strong.
The Portugal Under-21 skipper is well aware of the demands to do so though – but he is more than happy with the sky high levels of expectations in Glasgow’s East End.
Bernardo said: “We are winning so it’s natural to be happy. We are playing well and winning trophies, and that is all that matters for Celtic. Personally, I feel settled and happy. I am at a club that demands success but I am happy with that.
“I don’t really view it as pressure because I grew up as a Benfica player and you have to win every game there too. I joined them when I was six so this is all I have ever known in my career. I am used to the pressure and expectations and I know that I have to be prepared to win every game. We won the League Cup and now we move on to the next one.
“It was important to win on Sunday and we celebrated – but now we move on. We want to win all the trophies, of course, but we need to take it step by step and not look too far ahead.”
Bernardo has thrown himself into Celtic and while some of his Parkhead pals were putting the feet up, he was happy to muck in with the Celtic Foundation charity day. The Portuguese star said: “It was great to be part of this event and helping the kids. I was really happy to go along and see them.”
