Last night, the media was gleefully celebrating a second-tier tournament win for Scotland’s second club, as if it were something extraordinary. Meanwhile, the real champions were forging a path in Europe’s top-tier competition, and this time it was our women’s team pushing into the Champions League group stages—a tremendous achievement.
Today, everyone from an Ibrox persuasion is trying to persuade us that they are riding the crest of a wave, but the reality is they’re still five points behind us in the league. They remain a club facing more problems than they can easily escape. I’ll touch more on how this is just another cycle of false hope later on, but for now, let’s focus on the positive aspects of what happened with our own club. I am immensely proud of what our women’s team has accomplished.
Last season’s dramatic last-day title win was no more than they deserved. They were exceptional the year before, only losing the title in another final-day drama, so it was fitting that we clinched it in similar fashion last season. This year, although the race is close at the moment, I expect our team to rally and win it comfortably.
Ultimately, football often comes down to money, and we have the resources while the club from across the city does not. Last season, they spent more on their women’s team than we did, yet we reached the summit. Now, we have an opportunity to build a dynasty, a women’s team as strong as the one being built on the back of the men’s side.
As we get stronger, there’s a real chance we’ll become too dominant for the domestic competition. As a result, we’ll increasingly be measured by a different standard, judged in a new school of football. That’s why it’s so critically important that our women’s team has reached the Champions League group stages, and equally vital that we give a strong account of ourselves in it. Mark my words—this is a significant step onto the elite stage for our women’s side.
It is on that elite stage where our women’s team will truly put Celtic on the map. Our squad now has the opportunity to compete with the best teams in Europe, filled with international stars and backed by clubs that have spent fortunes to be the very best. Now, our women have gate-crashed that elite party, and we should aim to make a serious impact.
Elena Sadiku deserves enormous credit.
Many thought that losing Fran Alonso would see the women’s side go backwards, especially after some key players left. There was a real fear that we might have missed our moment.
Yet Elena has done a magnificent job—leading us to our first title and now, Champions League qualification for the first time. It’s clear that we’ll have to work incredibly hard to realise her ambitions if we’re going to keep her in charge.
Fortunately, the club seems committed to doing just that.
We’ve invested proper money in the women’s side. The team will soon have its own dedicated training centre, and although plans for a new grandstand appear to have been scaled back—which is disappointing—we have spent wisely when it comes to supporting the women’s team.
This is a massive moment for everyone involved in getting the women’s team to where it is now, and they should all take great pride in seeing our name in that Champions League draw, regardless of who we’re up against. We should approach these games with confidence and pride, determined to show we mean business.
Because it’s clear that, in the women’s game, we do mean business.
We’ve already secured €400,000 just for getting to the Groups, and that’s only the start. While there may not be as much sponsorship money floating around Scottish women’s football compared to down south, there’s no reason to believe that our women’s team won’t continue to improve. As it does, the fanbase will grow alongside it. Many supporters are already fully on board, and every Celtic fan is immensely proud of what the women have achieved.
Last season’s thrilling final day, when I had the pleasure of being at Celtic Park to watch us clinch the title, was a moment of pure joy. This summer and into the current campaign, where we remain unbeaten in the league and have now taken our first giant strides towards becoming a top European club, has been nothing short of remarkable.
Today, the media may focus on another European performance, but as usual, they are trailing in our slipstream. This is a special day for Celtic, a special day for the women’s team, and a special day for every fan who follows the women’s game. We await the Champions League draw with the same anticipation as we did for the men’s.
I can’t wait to see who we get, and I can’t wait to see how we perform. Enormous respect to everyone involved on the women’s side for this extraordinary achievement. There are many more special moments to come.
Well said James. Well proud last night and outstanding to all involved, players,coaches and Elena. Only thing is are the club backing them properly? I know we were well behind at least 3 other teams in financial terms last season. We won the league but just. We need to make Celtic the best in everything which carries the famous name. Disappointed to hear we have scaled back the stand btw.
Watched that last night and enjoyed it immensely – The Ghirls are extremely fit, motivated and clearly dedicated and enjoyed their moment of glory and rightfully so…
Even Mr Nicholson and a Co-Director were in attendance which was good…
Of course good old BBC Scotland (Absolutely Fuckin Not) just had to have a camera focusing in on our CEO (probably they dedicated one 24/7 on him just for the purpose) and caught him ‘scowling’ so to speak with his tongue curled up the way in an ‘angry’ look…
Now I’m no sycophant of Nicholson (I’m forever calling him Lord-Lucan Nicholson during bad transfer windows etc) but the bastards couldn’t even have him enjoy this momentous occasion without capturing his ‘lapse’
You’d think that at a Gaelic (Broadcasting) level they’d potentially ‘like’ Celtic especially in Europe but hey ho, there you go, not a chance and of course it’s BBC Scotland based in Glasgow, cameramen and camerawomen in Airdrie from the central belt so nuff’ said me thinks, and while there is plenty love of Celtic in Gaelic ‘areas’ there is equally just as much loathing as well – strange perhaps but this is Scotland – so it’s to be expected I guess and The Gaelic areas of The Six Occupied Counties in The Island of Ireland it certainly is not, that’s for sure !
Anyway back to on the field of play matters – And I’m still basking in the glow of that result last night so I am…
I hope the club can organise a celebration for Elana and The Ghirls (possibly did last night, but some might be working today so perhaps tonight instead) to mark this momentous occasion and we can all look forward to the lunchtime draw…
Will it be kinda kind the way it was to The Bhoys or will it be the proverbial group of death that sometimes happens in European Football…
Either way – Lets all enjoy the draw and the ride and road trip with The Ghirls !
Malmo were awful…. they would not live with a Falkirk or an Ayr Utd or an etc etc etc
Well done the Ghirls!
Was actually a good game with 2 belters of goals. The Celtic women that is. Can expect the incomin hysteria and hype from the other result. A good result for them aye, tho would like tae know who thought malmo were a good side, even for league winners. Certainly wisnae in evidence last night. Looked like another mediocre lot, nothin above average. Tho all they need here is one decent result against mediocrity and they’re talkin about finals. That is, until as usual, the first team they get who are good, it all comes crashin down. Same last season. They never learn.
The women’s game just isn’t for me. I could’ve just not commented but for me, it’s not the same thing, it’s not the team I grew up supporting, none of these women will play for the Celtic that won the European Cup. I don’t really agree with spending money earned by the men’s team on the women’s team. Feel free not to put this up, I’m not trying to convince anyone of anything.
@ brattbakk. Mate, naebody will play for the Celtic European cup team. It’s been done. Daft statement there. Things dae change as time goes on, sport, music, you name it. Agree it’ll never be the same as the men’s game, tho the women are every bit as committed tae their game and deserve full credit for chasin and playin the sport they obviously love. Respect.
Magnificent result for women’s football in Scotland hopefully we might see some praise in the Scottish newspapers or are the saving that for the rangers A team and their B team
If Malmo are an example of todays Swedish domestic football then the standard has fallen dramatically. The Rangers played the same tactics that Clement’s team always play, a few passes along the back and then a long ball, low and behold it was as if Malmo hadn’t ever seen a team with such basic tactics and they couldn’t cope with it.
The Rangers could have scored five or six, as Greavsie used to say “It’s a funny old game” he wasn’t kidding. To get things into perspective, in the Champions League qualifiers, Malmo lost 4 goals to Faroese team but got through 6-4 on aggregate, lost five goals to PAOK of Greece still won 6-5 on aggregate, and then got humped 4-0 by Sparta Prague to fall into the Europa League. The gulf between the Champions League and Europa League is vast.
Well done to the Ghirls, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Twente are going to be a big step up in class but good luck to them.