SCHMEICHEL OR SINISALO: WHO GET’S THE SCOTTISH CUP FINAL NOD?
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Like most of you, I was pleasantly surprised to see Kasper Schmeichel make his return to the Celtic starting line up last weekend.
In all honesty, I didn’t think we’d see the big man again for the rest of this season.
However, the confidence and capability shown by Viljami Sinisalo in his absence has been a major positive for Celtic’s future.
Schmeichel or Sinisalo? Brendan Rodgers has a Difficult Call to Make
Kasper Schmeichel is our number one goalkeeper. He proved that once again with a couple of really good saves on Saturday against Hibs.
However, Brendan Rodgers hasn’t completely closed the door on Viljami Sinisalo either. The manager said after Saturday’s game that Sinisalo will be back in goals for Wednesday’s trip to Aberdeen.
As glad as I am to see big Kasper back and fully fit, it is also a bit of a shame for Sinisalo. He has put in a string of excellent performances against some decent opposition, and Rangers.
Until last week, I had fully expected that Sinisalo would be in goals for the Scottish Cup Final. At best, I thought Schmeichel might make the bench.
However, the likeliest scenario now is Kasper Schmeichel in goal on May 24th. The future is still bright for Sinisalo at Celtic though.
I believe he will, in the fullness of time, succeed Kasper Schmeichel as out number one keeper. Dare, I say, I even see a potential future Celtic captain in there, if he sticks around for the long term.
Finland, thankfully, doesn’t have the same dismissive attitude towards the Scottish league that managers of nations like England and, I’m sad to say, Japan, sometimes show.
Even before he got a run in our first team, Sinisalo was still selected for Finland’s national squad. That will, undoubtedly continue.
There is also the possibility that Kasper Schmeichel way even opt to continue beyond his current one-year extension to his contract.
Personally, I don’t see that happening though. He has had a superb career both at club and international level. Denmark will, I fully expect, qualify for the World Cup next summer.
It would provide Kasper Schmeichel with the ultimate opportunity to bow out of football at the absolute highest level.
So, I think Schmeichel’s Celtic career will end next summer, and he will probably retire after the World Cup,
Still, you never know, stranger things have happened.
However, in Viljami Sinisalo, I believe we have a goalkeeper with the potential to become every bit as good as Kasper Schmeichel in the future.
He’ll have plenty of Cup Final opportunities with Celtic in the years ahead.