KASPER SCHMEICHEL isn’t the type of guy to dwell on an own goal howler in a Scottish Cup Final.
Celtic’s legendary Danish keeper dropped a clanger in calamitous circumstances to throw Aberdeen an unexpected lifeline with the seven minutes remaining in the silverware showpiece last month.
The Hoops were edging towards a sixth treble in nine phenomenal years as they led 1-0 with the clock ticking down.
Schmeichel made a horrendous error in judgement as he went down to deal with a routine low ball in from the right by Shayden Morris.
What happened next took everyone by surprise. The 38-year-old netminder somehow contrived to flap at the ball and turn it into his own net.
THE BHOY DANE GOOD…Kasper Schmeichel prepares for another day of training at Lennoxtown.
Brendan Rodgers saw a historic third domestic clean sweep – one more than club great Jock Stein – on the brink of being snatched away from him.
Celtic players looked on in open-mouthed astonishment, the supporters were struck dumb – and the Dons whooped in delight.
It’s history now the Pittodrie side won 4-3 on penalty-kicks and the Hoops had to be content with their thirteenth title in 14 years and their 55th crown in total plus a League Cup, which was collected at the national stadium in mid-December with a 5-4 spot-kick shoot-out success over Rangers.
Schmeichel played a significant role with a plunge to his left to deny Ridvan Yilmaz while Daizen Maeda buried the decisive strike behind Jack Butland.
The strapping 6ft-plus shotstopper has perfected the art of positive thinking.
He didn’t go overboard following his first honour at the club after joining as a free agent from Anderlecht in the summer.
Nor did he attempt to make futile excuses after his catastrophic mistake in the last game of the season.
SPOT ON, SCHMEICHEL…Kasper throws himself to his left to save Ridvan Yilmaz’s penalty-kick in Celtic’s Premier Sports League Cup Final shoot-out derby win at Hampden in December.
Reflecting on the game-changing moment, Schmeichel made a reference to Daizen Maeda’s stoppage-time miss when the pacy raider was clean through, but lacked precision with his finishing shot and allowed Dons keeper Dmitar Mitov to thrust out a left foot and divert the ball to safety.
The former Manchester City and Leicester City No.1 calmly observed: “When towards the end of the Final against Aberdeen we blew a kick that could have decided the game in our favour, it wasn’t a focus point after the game.
“It was my mistake that was talked about. It’s just life as a goalkeeper.”
A shoulder injury sustained playing for his country in a 5-2 UEFA Nations League play-off loss to Portugal in Lisbon in March derailed Schmeichel’s progress at the champions.
He was forced onto the sidelines for six successive games with Finland’s Viljami Sinisalo proving to be a more than capable deputy.
In all, Schmeichel made 49 outings which took his total to an impressive 903 appearances for 12 different clubs.
IT TAKES TWO…Kasper Schmeichel and Daizen Maeda celebrate Celtic’s League Cup triumph.
And the golden oldie is in no rush to say his final farewell after revealing he has targeted the 1,000-game landmark.
He stated: “It would be fantastic if I could reach that figure. You could say it would be a special milestone because not many people manage to play as many games as that.
“I’m the type who doesn’t see limitations, but rather opportunities. I enjoy what I do immensely.
“I look forward to training every day and to all the matches. I know it will end one day. That’s also why I live very much in the present.
“I don’t think several years into the future, but, as I feel today, my plan is to continue my career for several years.”
Schmeichel, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “The only thing that can stop those ambitions is if there is a serious injury.
SILVERWARE CELT…Kasper Schmeichel holds aloft the Hoops’ fourth successive title.
“However, this has been one of the best seasons of my career. A new standard has been set for what we can and want.
“We lost one Cup Final against Aberdeen, were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League after a game where we had enough chances to win.
“I was really impressed with the atmosphere we had in the dressing room at the Allianz Arena. We had drawn against Bayern Munich, but we were very disappointed that we didn’t progress.”
Schmeichel has a year to run on his current contract. No one should be surprised if he signs an extension at some stage before the turn of the year.
