ALISTAIR JOHNSTON is planning to live the dream in Paradise tomorrow night.
Celtic’s Canadian international defender won’t mind if he sleepless after matchday five of the Champions League against Club Brugge under the lights in the east end of Glasgow.
Johnston, who has just agreed a contract extension until the summer of 2029, admitted he was unable to get any kip after the team’s 3-1 triumph over RB Leipzig in the previous encounter as a 60,000 sold-out Parkhead shook to its foundations earlier this month.
The 26-year-old right-back is hoping he and his team-mates can stage an action replay against the Belgians to propel Brendan Rodgers’ men closer to the money-spinning knock-out stages of Europe’s elite competition.
THE CELTIC CUDDLE…Alistair Johnston and Kasper Schmeichel celebrate the 3-1 win over RB Leipzig.
The Hoops go into the confrontation sitting on seven points after kicking off with a 5-1 home win over Slovan Bratislava in September before enduring a torrid 7-1 loss against Borussia Dortmund in Germany.
Thankfully, Johnston and Co managed to steady the ship in Bergamo in the following game when they earned a goalless draw against Europa League winners Atalanta.
Then came the pulverising victory over the Bundesliga opposition on Fireworks’ Night when Nicolas Kuhn decimated his countrymen with a breathtaking two-goal first-half display and Reo Hatate made certain with a thumping drive into the roof of the net after snapping onto a fumble from the keeper following a low cross from Johnston.
The energetic back-four operator said: “For the Leipzig match, Celtic Park was on fire. It was unbelievable. Everyone walked out of the stadium that night just overjoyed.
“I didn’t sleep and I can’t imagine our fans really slept too much after that. Those poor people who had to go to work the next day, I feel for them.
“But, again, it’s matches like that which just get you hooked.
HEAD BHOY…captain-for-the-day Alistair Johnston bullets in Celtic’s second goal in the 3-0 victory over Motherwell at Fir Park.
“It really is almost like a drug that you just want more and more of once you get a little taste of it. Now you’re just so excited for the next one to go out there and, hopefully, replicate it and take it even a step further and have a better performance.”
Johnston arrived at Parkhead in a £3.75million switch from MLS outfit CF Montreal in January 2022 and was well aware of the heritage of his new team.
The defender, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “When you come to one of these famous clubs like Celtic you want to make your own history.
“You want to somehow find a way to do that. It’s tough because there is such a great and grand history of this club.
“But you want to be a part of things that fans will remember. I’d love to be remembered as being a part of one of the best Celtic teams.
“With what we’ve shown, we’re definitely rivalling that, but, at the same time, you need to win trophies.”
A determined Johnston added: “The European nights are really important. If you can do something on the European stage, that will live long in our fans’ memories.”
The modest full-back refrains from mentioning he has now started adding goals to his repertoire with four already this season – against St Mirren, 3-0 in Paisley, Ross County, 2-1 in Dingwall, Motherwell, 3-0 at Fir Park, and Dundee, 2-0 at Parkhead.
Johnston has fired blanks so far this month. Tomorrow night would be an ideal occasion to put that stat to bed.
