CELTIC may be able to splash the cash when they want to bring in the best players available, but Ryan Christie insists the winning mentality at Aberdeen matches that of his parent club.
The midfielder, on a season-long loan at Pittodrie from Parkhead, is well placed to compare the managerial approaches of Derek McInnes and Brendan Rodgers – which, he attests, are very similar.
Christie, who has two more years left on his Celtic contract, views his time with the Dons as key to his improvement as a player, with the aim of returning to the east end of Glasgow ready to compete for a place in the Celtic squad.
He is adamant, too, that there will be no hangover for Rodgers’s outfit following their 5-0 defeat to Paris St-Germain in Tuesday’s Champions League game.
“I think it comes down to attitude and mindset at a club,” Christie said, “even if you don't have the budget that the likes of Celtic do to spend on players and wages.
“As long you've got that mindset of wanting to be successful.
“That rubs off on other teams coming to Pittodrie. They know we're expected to win.
“A lot of people say 'I hope Celtic drop points after midweek games', but the reality is that they have so many good players and such a big squad that it doesn't come into it.
“They'll be looking to bounce back this weekend and making sure they don't slip up domestically.
“It comes down to a big squad and they look after themselves well. They're all athletes at that club. They'll go into the weekend having forgotten about midweek.”
But the Dons, he says, possess a determination to win silverware this season, and the team feel boosted by the depth McInnes has brought to Pittodrie this season.
“We're going into games and every single player on the bench, you could argue, is a starting player. That's a great thing to have at a club," he added.
Today, the former Inverness Caledonian Thistle playmaker will line-up against Kilmarnock, who haven’t beaten Aberdeen in their last 13 league games, stretching back to April 2013.
Christie is anxious to display his desire to improve and grow in stature as a player and to retain his longer-term aim to be a Celtic regular.
He said: “First things first, it comes down to game time. I've been lucky enough to play a good part so far this season and I hope that continues. That's down to me and my form.
“Secondly, it's being in a team and a club that wants to be successful and pushes its players and everybody and the club.”
Christie maintains regular contact with the Hoops as they monitor his progress in red, which he appreciated.
“They've been in touch a few times," Christie said. “After the Europa League games they were in touch saying 'well done', which was good because I wanted European experience as well.
“They'll be checking. It's good for me and it's good when they check-in that it gives me that feeling that they're still watching me and seeing how I'm doing."
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