KASPER SCHMEICHEL has revealed he dismissed interest from English top-flight teams to accept the demands of playing for Celtic.
The 37-year-old goalkeeper, who has made 105 international appearances for Denmark, took up the challenge of attempting to win EVERY game at the champions.
Schmeichel left Belgian outfit Anderlecht at the end of the season as a free agent to kick-start a clamour from teams throughout Europe to get his signature.
However, the strapping 6ft-plus stopper decided to reunite again with his Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers at Parkhead.
Schmeichel said: “It’s true there was some interest from the English Premier League, and it is always a pat on the back with interest from clubs from such a big league.
THUMB’S UP…a beaming Kasper Schmeichel acknowledges the Celtic fans after the champions’ 2-0 Premiership win over Hibs at Easter Road.
“But I must also be completely honest and say that it was not about clubs at all up at the top of the English table.
“In Anderlecht, I was reminded of how great it is to play for a championship. Such as I also tried for success in Leicester. It’s just me.
“In a top club like Celtic, who are always chasing trophies, there is a lot at stake in each and every match and I love the demand that every time you go on the pitch, you must only win.
“Perhaps the coolest thing has been the winning mentality in Celtic, where the biggest point is that we must maintain the hunger to win again and again and again – and I feel that hunger, seriousness and ambition every single day.”
Schmeichel, speaking to Danish sports outlet Tipsbladet, continued: “The club’s mindset permeates everything. We have to win the next game – and the next trophy.
“Celtic is just one of the absolute biggest clubs in Great Britain. When they came on the field, I could immediately feel that I wanted to be here.
TIC TALK…Kasper Schmeichel joins the Celtic huddle.
“It is a huge club in so many ways: The history, the trophies, and the aforementioned winning mentality, where it is only about winning – a draw is never enough.”
The Great Dane, who is preparing for his fourth competitive outing at the Hoops against St Mirren in Paisley on Sunday, added: “There is the support at home at Celtic Park with an average of 60,000 and a gigantic passion for the club.
“And then we noticed in the US this summer that Celtic is a global brand with fans everywhere.
“At the same time, we are directly in the Champions League, which is the highest level in football.”
Schmeichel’s 100 per cent clean sheet record came to a halt in the 3-1 Premier Sports League Cup win over Hibs at the weekend.
The giant shotstopper enjoyed two successive shut-outs in the Premiership victories over Kilmarnock (4-0) and the Edinburgh club (2-0) before conceding against the Leith side.
