Cameron Carter-Vickers believes that Celtic’s performance in defeat to St Johnstone last weekend ‘wasn’t terrible’, and that a sense of perspective has to be maintained over their achievements this season.
The big defender wasn’t surprised that his manager, Brendan Rodgers, was angry after the loss to the league’s bottom side, but he thinks that his side carved out more than enough opportunities to win the match, and that on another day they would have come out on top quite comfortably.
And despite Rodgers saying that his team had lost their edge due to their comfortable lead at the top of the Premiership, he doesn’t think that the team have subconsciously taken their foot off the gas.
“It's a tough thing to say,” Carter-Vickers said. "It's a tough one to answer.
“I think, personally, you look at the game last weekend. We created more than enough chances to win that game. Obviously, it didn't start ideal conceding. But, after that point, I thought we created, we hit the post. Reo (Hatate) had one he flashed over from close to the goal and a few other chances.
(Image: Alan Harvey - SNS Group) “So, we created more than enough chances to win that game. I think, nine times out of 10, if you create those chances, you do win that game. Result-wise, it's not a positive one. But, performance-wise, it wasn't terrible, in my opinion.
"Of course, the manager, he's the one in charge. We all listen to what he has to say and take it on board.
"He's been here two seasons now. There were times last season where we didn't perform the way he wanted us to, so I was aware that he had that side to him. So, it wasn't a surprise.
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"We've got a fairly mature group. I think everyone knows, ideally, you want to get things wrapped up as soon as possible.
“That's what we're trying to do. But, like I kind of mentioned last week, nine times out of 10, if you have those chances, you win that game. And this whole conversation is not even happening now.
“And that's football. That's why we love the sport. That's why a team can be on top for 80 minutes and still lose a game. And that's why people watch it, because it's unpredictable.
“So, as well as I completely understand the emotion of losing a game, of course, and when the final whistle goes last weekend, I'm annoyed, we're all annoyed, but I think at some point you have to kind of have a bigger perspective of the whole scenario and where you're at in the season.
“And I think it's a fairly positive position.”
Carter-Vickers was partnered with Auston Trusty last week, but has also played alongside Maik Nawrocki in recent weeks due to injuries to Trusty and Liam Scales.
He isn’t looking to use the chopping and changing of personnel as an excuse though for any dip in performance in the defence, or from himself personally.
“To be fair, the way we train, I'm outside every day training with all these guys, so whoever plays on the weekend or on the matchday, we are all used to playing with each other,” he said.
“I think any defensive partnership definitely helps when you have a bit of consistency there and you can learn each other's movements a bit more.
“But every day I'm working with these guys, so I know these players and they know me.”
(Image: Alan Harvey - SNS Group) A couple of seasons ago, Carter-Vickers missed out on this period at the end of the season as his teammates savoured their title success, and he is determined not to allow this campaign to fizzle out so that their accomplishments are properly appreciated, both from their own point of view and from the outside looking in.
“Of course, this is when you want to be playing,” he said.
“A couple of seasons ago when I had my knee surgery, I missed out on this bit but other than that, I've been a part of it and it's always enjoyable when you're still playing for things and you've still got the chance to win things.
“As a player this is where you want to be. It's definitely a part of the season we need to, as a group, enjoy it and stay focused for it and keep pushing for it.
“At the beginning of the season, our goals are to, obviously, win all the competitions domestically and have a good showing in Europe.
“We've got one cup in the bag so far, in a good position to get two more trophies domestically. I think our Champions League campaign was a decent one and I thought we were showed we could compete at that level.
“Of course you want to finish it in style and that's what we're aiming to do.”
