ERIK Sviatchenko believes Celtic will achieve greater success both domestically and in Europe under their new manager next season if they can reproduce the form they displayed in their 7-0 trouncing of Motherwell on Sunday.
Sviatchenko and his team mates blew their Fir Park rivals away in their final match of the 2015/16 campaign before being presented with the Ladbrokes Premiership trophy at Parkhead.
It was a meaningless match for the Scottish champions, who had retained their title seven days earlier with a 3-2 win over Aberdeen at home, and several prominent players, including Scott Brown, Leigh Griffiths and Charlie Mulgrew, weren’t involved.
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However, goals from Kieran Tierney, Tom Rogic, Mikael Lustig, Patrick Roberts, Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Christie and young debutant Jack Aitchison ensured manager Ronny Deila enjoyed the perfect send-off.
Sviatchenko, who has established himself as a first choice centre half since signing from FC Midtjylland in his native Denmark for £1.5 million earlier this year, believes that should be the level they aspire to under Deila’s replacement next season.
“The game was one of the best,” he said. “We really put on a good display and the goals were amazing. I think 7-0 is the biggest score in my career and on a day when the trophy is presented it is something special. All in all a good day.
“The goal I remember most was Stuart Armstrong’s. That was just something that I’ve never seen before. That’s a real positive. Tom Rogic’s unbelievable skill to shift the ball and set up Ryan Christie was also amazing. Ending like this is good. It’s the last thing you remember as you go into the summer and that’s important.
“We’re doing better and better and the Motherwell game was one where we released the handbrake and we just fired away. We have to find a way to do that more often.
“If we can achieve that and play with confidence then the team has shown it will be ready for the challenges it will face. That’s up to the new manager to see how this team will be.
“I’m part of a club where the expectation is not just to be ordinary but to be extraordinary. That makes it a good place to be and hopefully next season will be even better.”
The Danish internationalist admitted that he had been sad to see Deila, the Norwegian manager who brought him to Celtic during the January transfer window, stand down as manager following the emphatic win over Motherwell.
However, the 24-year-old emphasised that he remains committed to the Parkhead club despite the departure of his fellow Scandinavian and is looking forward to working with his replacement.
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“We were also ending two years of Ronny as manager on Sunday and we were happy to have had such a good day for his farewell,” he said.
“It’s always disappointing when the manager leaves especially as he was part of the reason I came here. But also before I signed I took away the manager’s role from the equation and I still thought it was a good idea for me to sign on at Celtic. I now just wish the best for Ronny Deila.”
“I’m open to the next manager. It’s difficult for players to talk as we don’t know who will be here. But I respect the board and I’m sure they will pick the right one. All the players are united and will be ready to show the best character.”
“It’s been great at Celtic – even better than I thought. The expectations I had for this move were huge as well.”
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