Everything that Liam Scales said to the media after Celtic's 6-0 Scottish Premiership win over St Johnstone in Perth...
That was a great win, wasn't it?
Yeah, it was enjoyable. The intensity was there from the start. We stayed on top of the game. I think we respected the challenge that they brought. Probably did the dirty parts really, really well and then the quality took over. Towards the end it was so good to watch from the back, watching some of the goals go in. It was amazing.
What did you think when you saw the likes of Daizen Maeda chasing back late in the game?
Yeah, he's like that every week. That's not a one-off. You see that week in, week out. It's so noticeable when he does it because of how quickly and how far he runs. All over the park, our attacking players are doing that for us 10, 15 times a game. It's what we work on though. We work on our counter-pressing, winning the ball back and as a team getting back into shape as quickly as we can. That shows the dirty side of the game that we did well today as well as the nice parts as well.
How difficult is it to bring what the manager called a Champions League mentality into domestic games?
I don't think it's difficult to be honest. Tuesday night's massive for us but we weren't even thinking about that before this game. This was a big game for us as well. We want to keep winning games and putting teams away and keeping clean sheets. For us, we've got everything to play for in the league. It's not that difficult to get up for these games. Even though the Dortmund fixture might look like a bigger one and it's maybe a bigger stage. This is the bread and butter and this is what we need to do well every week. so it's massively important for us."
You played alongside an American just not the one you were used to how do you think Auston Trusty did?
He was brilliant. We are two left-footers as well. He drew the short straw. He didn't look out of place. He didn't look uncomfortable and that's brilliant. It's just how we lined up during the week and the shape of the manager. It was probably the manager's choice. He was brilliant, so solid on the ground and in the air. He was good. Austin was brilliant. He's a top player and I think whoever it is we're ready and we've had a chance to play with each other now. I've no preference so it's just so many good players in each position that we can deal with injuries here and there. Cam's such a big player and whenever he was missing out last year people noticed it. Cam's a massive player for us but I keep saying that strength and depth are massive. The competition for places. No one's place is secure in the team at the moment because of how good the next player is to come in. Even when we rotate I don't think it weakens us. It's just a really good place to be.
What can be achieved on Tuesday night?
I believe we can go there and win it. We just need to go and play the way we've been playing and see where that takes us. They've got a top, top side and in the Champions League, we know it's going to be difficult. But we also need to go there with a bit of confidence that if we play our game we can go and win. If we play the way we've been playing in the league it gives us our best chance of getting a result there and that's what we plan to do. We're playing good football, we're winning games, we're keeping clean sheets. That's given us the most confidence that we can possibly have going into a game like this. It's going to be really difficult and we'll do very well to get a result but we believe we can."
People talk about different levels and they say you step up from the Scottish Premier League to the Champions League. Is it more about what you guys do? You guys can replicate this and it gives you a chance against anybody, doesn't it?
Yeah, definitely. I think being defensively sound is important. We've seen with Bratislava when we were really good defensively but with the quality of opposition, they can hurt you with limited chances. They got a goal against us and they didn't have many chances and they scored a brilliant goal. That's what we need to be aware of more so than on the ball. I think on the ball we're a good side and we're doing everything well at the moment. Every player knows where their options are going to be and we can do that in the league or we can do that in the Champions League. It's more defensively being solid, keeping 11 men on the pitch and not conceding easy goals.
You have to avoid red cards as that did for you last year, didn't it?
The manager would have spoken about it before the first game against Bratislava. Because it killed us in two fixtures last season, getting men sent off. They were difficult fixtures last season but it is important. You've seen the refs as well against Bratislava in every Champions League game. You can't really make a foul without picking up the yellow card. We just need to be careful but still be intense in our defending. It's just something we need to look out for.
What do you think of The Yellow Wall?
I think for me you get a minute before the game when the anthem's playing and you're lining up and we'll do the huddle. Then you can take in the atmosphere. But once the game starts it doesn't affect you as much as you think because you're so focused on what's going on on the pitch. I'll take a minute while we're lining up and coming out to take it all in because it's an amazing stadium and a great team so I can't wait.
They seem to get a lot of energy from that yellow wall but do they make more of that than you think?
I could see that being the case because we have the same in Celtic Park. It can suffocate teams but we know what it's like to play in an atmosphere like that. I think we're well equipped based on what we've played in Celtic Park and even going to Ibrox it can be hostile so we're quite ready for that.
You are not overawed now by the Champions League, are you?
It's sort of just knowing what to expect now. Obviously the first couple of games last season it was new to me but now I've had that experience and now I can use that experience to be better equipped. It's just another game. It might be on a bigger stage or get to a better opposition but it's another game that we have a chance to win.
Is that something that you tend to do during Champions League games, take a minute to get used to your surroundings?
Yeah, it's something I usually do just to be calm going into the game. Cam with a calm head. Just take a few deep breaths and then you're ready for the game. That would be something I've always done. It's a great European stadium. How many seats have you sold? About 80,000 seats. That's brilliant. That'll probably be the biggest I'll have played in and it means a lot. You're talking about a tournament that's grown up. It's fantastic so I'll take it all in for that minute before the game. Then get down to business.
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