NADIR Ciftci received an immediate introduction to the harsh realities of playing up front for Celtic in his first competitive fixture against FC Stjarnan last week.
Despite signing just six days earlier
and being involved in less than 45 minutes of football for his new club, Ciftci was chosen to play in attack by himself against the Icelanders on Wednesday night in the Champions League qualifier.
The 23-year-old has played at a high level in England, his native
Turkey and the Netherlands and was certainly well equipped, both physically and mentally, to deal with the occasion. Yet, the former Dundee United striker had probably never experienced an opposing team which placed such an emphasis on defence. Stjarnan looked to contain their hosts, something they did effectively thanks in no small part to the excellence of Gunnar Nielsen in goal, and hit on the counter-attack.
It is something Ciftci is going to have to get used to, particularly at home. However, the forward, who moved to the Scottish champions in a
£1.5 million transfer, is hopeful the return leg of the second qualifying round tie in Garðabær this week will afford him further chances.
“I was really pleased with how the game against Stjarnan went,” he said after Celtic’s 2-0 victory. “We won the game with fantastic goals and did our job. We’re looking forward to the second leg. You don’t know what will happen in football so we have to take the game seriously and respect the other team. But I will always be confident in this team going anywhere with our quality.
“I had a chance to hit the back of the net on Wednesday night after a fantastic ball from Stefan [Johansen], but I didn’t make a good connection.It would have been brilliant if I had scored, but hopefully in the next game I will. It’s not easy when they park the bus like that and you have to break them. But you know they will then get tired. It could have been better. We could have had loads of goals, but it’s enough for us.
“If the other team want to go through they will have to come out. Hopefully we can hit them again and make something good again.”
As is the case with any striker who joins Celtic, there is pressure on Ciftci to score regularly. The former Portsmouth, Kayserispor, NAC Breda
player will learn his fate tomorrow when he faces the SFA compliance officer over an alleged biting incident involving midfielder Jim McAlister during the last Dundee derby of the season but, off the park anyway, he is a laconic individual, and is confident he will flourish in his new surroundings. He knows Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven, who he played alongside at Tannadice, and believes the understanding they already have will enable him to settle on the park.
“Stuart set up the second goal on Wednesday night brilliantly,” he said. “He’s a good player. We all know what he can do. He was one of the guys I really enjoyed playing with at United but, of course, there were
others like Gaz. Playing with them here again is good. We can have an instant understanding because we know each
other well. You’ve seen it in the Real Sociedad game and Stjarnan as well. We linked up well with each other.
“With the manager here, the players around me, the defence, I definitely
think I can develop myself to the next level. With everything we have here, the stadium, pitches, facilities, managers, players, everything around here will definitely make me better I am sure.”
Ronny Deila was angry Johansen became embroiled in a dispute with Leigh Griffiths over who should take a penalty kick – which the latter eventually had saved by Nielsen – on Wednesday night. Ciftci had no qualms accepting that responsibility with United and said he would take spot kicks for Celtic if asked.
“I will definitely do it,” he said.
“I like to hit the penalties. I know Leigh has missed, but he’s a good player and a confident lad. There are lots of players who can do it.”
Ciftci is represented by Pierre van Hooijdonk, the former Celtic striker, who was back at Parkhead for the
Stjarnan game and received a warm reception as he performed the half-time draw. The Dutchman is held in high esteem at the Glasgow club despite the unfortunate circumstances when he left for Nottingham Forest after some derogatory comments about his pay offer.
Ciftci is hopeful he will perform to the same high standards so will be treated in a similar manner on his
return one day.
“I didn’t see Pierre go on at half time but, of course, I want to have a good relationship like that with the fans here,” he said. “It would be brilliant if these fantastic fans can stand behind me and I can give them something brilliant in the seasons I am here. It makes me proud if there are kids with my jersey.
“I have been at Celtic Park with my agent for a big European night against AC Milan. I know what it means for the fans. I only dream about things like that. “I know how big those nights are for Celtic. I love it and an atmosphere like that is amazing. Hopefully we can get through to the group stages and I can fulfil a dream.”
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