Top Line Summary

  • No need to re-referee decisions
  • Not worried about officials decisions costing Celtic the title
  • More twists and turns to come in the title race
  • Putting their arm around Yang after his dismissal

Everything that Cameron Carter-Vickers said to the media after Celtic's 2-0 Scottish Premiership defeat to Hearts...

How difficult an afternoon was that for Celtic with 10 men?

It was obviously difficult. It was disappointing that we didn’t get the result that we wanted. All in all, I think we can be proud of the performance that we gave. We created a lot of chances, even when we went down to 10 men. So, yeah, I think there are a lot of positives that we can take from it. Whether we won that game or not, what we have to do for the rest of the season is pretty clear. We will just focus on that.

What were your thoughts on the decisions?

You can debate whether the first one was a red card or not, but, for me, the ref has seen it live. He has a clear view of it and he gives a yellow card. So for him to change it when he goes to the monitor? I’m not sure that’s right. As we all know, when images are slowed down they can look a lot worse. I would like the referee to stick with his original decision, especially when he had a clear view of it the first time around.

Did you think it was a handball against Tomoki Iwata for the Hearts penalty and is it hard for you as a defender to understand the handball rule?

I don’t think a single player on the pitch knew who had handballed it. I think most people on the pitch thought it was Ali, Ali Johnston, handballed it. Obviously, it wasn’t, it was Tomo (Iwata). When you are jumping for the ball, your arms naturally come up. On top of that, there is a lot of pushing and shoving that goes on which can move your body and make it seem like it moves in the direction of the ball when you never meant to do it.

The manager was frustrated at the fact that the referee saw incidents live but they ended up being re-refereed by someone away from the stadium. How frustrating is that for players because you know the speed of the game?

If a referee has seen it the first time around clearly, I don’t understand why there is a need for him to go to a monitor at all. If he hasn’t seen it, if he has only seen it through bodies or if he hasn’t had a good angle, then that is fair enough. But in that scenario, he had a great view of it the first time around and he gave a yellow card. I just don’t understand it. Not just in that case, in any case. Once a referee has seen it clearly, there is no need for him to have a second look in my opinion.

Is it a worry that incidents and decisions like these could cost you or decide the title?

They could do.  We can’t let our focus go on to that. We have just got to focus on our own performance. Like I said, even when we went down to 10 men, we created a good few chances. We probably would have liked to have stopped them from scoring a second. That is all we can focus on. As long as we keep improving and getting better we will be alright.

Does this feel like a missed opportunity to go back to the top of the table?

Result-wise, yeah. I wouldn’t say performance-wise. It is always difficult when you go down to 10 men. You are naturally going to lose a bit of control of the game. I thought for large parts we were probably the team that created the better chances. We have just got to have faith that if we keep doing that then we will pick up the results that we want.

 

With both Rangers and Celtic losing at the weekend unexpectedly does that show you that there will be more twists and turns in the title race?

100 per cent. We have also got to play each other twice. Nothing is done yet. For us it is about focusing on ourselves and what we can control and trying to be the best versions of ourselves that we can.

Aside from the VAR controversy, is it easy to forgive Adam for missing the penalty?

Yeah. He came in and in his second game against Hibs away he scored two big penalties for us. He scored late on against Motherwell and again the other night against Dundee. We have full faith in him as we do in all our players. One penalty miss can happen to anyone.

You are one of the leaders in the dressing and with Callum McGregor out how important is it for you and the senior guys to step up and be leaders? Do you feel a responsibility personally to step up?

Maybe a little bit. I always like to view myself maybe as a leader even though I don’t necessarily use that word. As a group, we manage things and we control things. Obviously, I have my opinion on things. I think I am pretty good at bringing perspective to positive and negative situations. That is how I kind of see my role within the team. Other players have different characters. I think it is a good blend of characters that we have.

Callum is going to be out for a while now. How do you feel you played without Callum? Did the midfield area of the pitch function okay?

I think when we had 11 men we started the game pretty well. Paulo has played quite a bit so he is ready to go, Tomo has been playing really well in the last few games when he has been in and obviously Matty has been one of our best players all season. So, yeah, I think we have got the players to cope.

How was Yang? He looked pretty distraught.

Obviously, you are distraught when you get sent off and it affects the game like that. You are going to be down a little bit. But most of the boys got around him straight away and I think he is feeling alright now.

How is Adam settling in off the park and on it?

Really good. He is a great guy. He is actually quite funny. He makes the boys laugh and is a great character.

Does he feel like a Celtic player already?

Yeah, I mean he is. I know it is a loan, but it is the same as my situation when I joined on loan. Whether players are on loan or have signed permanent, they are part of the team, part of the club. Everyone makes him feel welcome.