Kasper Schmeichel has spoken candidly about the highs and lows of his season at Celtic, including the difficult moments when the mood around him turned.
The goalkeeper found himself under pressure after the 4-1 defeat to VfB Stuttgart, a night where a few costly errors drew a reaction from sections of the support. It was a tough evening, and the frustration inside the stadium was hard to miss.
Not long after, Schmeichel dropped out of the side as injury issues caught up with him. Viljami Sinisalo stepped in for the return leg, kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win, and has held onto the jersey since.
Schmeichel’s last appearance came in the 2-1 defeat to Hibernian, a game that fell right in the middle of that European tie.
Looking back on that spell, he didn’t pretend it was easy.
“I am a sensitive guy. I hear a lot of stuff and I feed off that energy, no question – both positive and negative. But the energy the fans can bring is so important.
“When you play at Celtic Park and they are with you, you are unstoppable. You stand in that goal and you feel the atmosphere, you feel the drive.
“I’d hate to be an opposition player there because that is the ultimate weapon Celtic have – that unity and that support. When all that is buzzing, you have won before you go on the pitch, practically. But that is what Celtic is.”
It’s an honest reflection from a player who has experienced both ends of the emotional spectrum this season. Schmeichel didn’t ignore the criticism, but he’s chosen to frame it as part of the job rather than something to dwell on.
In truth, his performances had already been affected by a lingering shoulder problem. He tried to play through it, hoping to keep contributing during a key period of the campaign.
There was also a bigger picture in mind. With a World Cup on the horizon, this was meant to be an important year for him on the international stage.
Instead, the injury worsened to the point where he couldn’t continue — and with Denmark failing to qualify, that opportunity slipped away altogether.
For Schmeichel, it’s been a season that’s tested him in more ways than one, both physically and mentally.