GIAKOUMAKIS IS READY FOR ‘LAST DANCE’
GIORGOS GIAKOUMAKIS achieved his target when Celtic sealed the Premiership title against Dundee United at Tannadice in midweek.
The striker leapt high to power in the Hoops’ goal in the 1-1 draw that brought the point that ensured the club’s 52nd crown in their glorious history.
It was the 15th goal of the campaign for the Greek international frontman who was signed by Ange Postecoglou from Dutch minnows VVV-Venlo for £2.5million in August, but he admitted he was not interested in personal glory.
Last season the 27-year-old attack-leader sampled the anguish of relegation from the Eredivisie, but in the space of a year he has enjoyed a complete U-turn in fortunes.
Giakoumakis said: “It’s a unique feeling, it’s something that’s really important for every football player’s career to win titles, especially with such a massive club like Celtic.
UP AND AT ‘EM…Giorgos Giakoumakis leaps high to bullet in Anthony Ralston’s cross against Dundee United.
“We worked a lot throughout the whole season and right now we just want to enjoy what we worked for.
“If you play for this club, one of the main targets every season is to win the league.
“It’s something that you’re forced to do because this club has already won so much.
“When you sign for this club you expect to be champions, so it’s something that I’ve been thinking about since the moment I signed here.
“The atmosphere on Wednesday was insane. The fans had a party for us when we arrived back from Dundee and I think we will celebrate even more against Motherwell.
ROARING SUCCESS…goalscorer Giorgos Giakoumakis celebrates with Anthony Ralston with Greg Taylor about to join the party.
“They deserve to celebrate with us. You never feel exhausted when you celebrate a title – you can celebrate all day.
“It’s the last dance and the last party we can have. We will all enjoy with the players, staff and with the fans and then next season we need to go again with the target to win the league and I hope we can make it.
“It’s one more game for us, we don’t stop and we want to win the game to end on a victory and make our fans even happier and celebrate with us.”
Giakoumakis also paid tribute to Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton who will leave the club after today’s grand finale against the Fir Park outfit following glittering success in almost two decades of service between them.
The burly raider, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “I’m really grateful I worked with these players. They will be a big part of the history of this club and I wish them all the best for the rest of their career.
FANFARE…Giorgos Giakoumakis and Kyogo Furuhashi celebrate at the end with the travelling support.
“I’m really happy I met these guys as people and I wish them all the best.
“This season we had great games and I believed so much in my team from the first day I stepped into the team until now.
“We have played very good football with great players and we deserved it and I’m very happy about that.
“Next year is going to be even better, we will get to know each other better and even the style of our game we can improve because this year it was new.
“We have more time to work together so I’m really excited about next season.”
DOWN AND OUT…Kyogo Furuhashi grimaces as he is grounded in the Boxing Day game against St Johnstone twith the injury hat would keep him out of the team for three months. Liel Abada offers support.
Giakoumakis stepped up to the plate after the turn of the year when it became evident Kyogo Furuhashi, who had claimed 16 goals up to that point, would be out for a lengthy period with the hamstring problem that saw him limp off early in the 3-1 win over St Johnstone in Perth on Boxing Day.
The marksman had claimed just one strike in the first half of the campaign, but, after work on a knee injury, he showed the form that enticed Postecoglou in the first place as he fired in 14 goals, including two hat-tricks against Dundee and Ross County.
And it’s clear he wants to go out with a bang during the carnival atmosphere in the east end of Glasgow this afternoon.
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Motherwell this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
