VILJAMI SINISALO kept a clean sheet when Celtic clinched their fourth successive title with a 5-0 triumph over Dundee United at Tannadice on April 26 last year.
And the Finnish international keeper was celebrating again when the Hoops made it five in a row with their 3-1 win over Hearts at Parkhead last Saturday.
Sinisalo, now the recognised No.1 with Kasper Schmeichel’s career put in jeopardy with his persistent injury problems, admits the “winning feeling is addictive.”
The £1million arrival from Aston Villa in the summer of 2024, is looking forward to facing Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden tomorrow with the sole intention of adding to his growing medal collection.
READY FOR THE GRAND FINALE…ambitious Celtic keeper Viljami Sinisalo poses with the Scottish Cup at Hampden.
Preparing for the big game, Sinisalo said: “This week at Lennoxtown has been really good. Everyone understands the reality that we have a job to do and we’re very much focused on that.
“You come to a big club and the most important thing is always the next game.
“That’s very much the message that’s been drummed in to us all week and has been all season.
“The winning feeling is addictive. It’s something that, once you experience it, you just want more.
“Not many football players win a lot, so to be in that minority is a privilege and this is a club where it’s expected of you.
“You work so hard as a group of players and staff to have those moments that we had last week, and we’ll do our best to achieve that again this weekend.”
THE CELTIC VIEW…Viljami Sinisalo talks to the club’s TV station.
Sinisalo, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “Dunfermline have done so well to get to the Final. Everyone understands that they’ve beaten three Premiership sides leading up to this point, so nobody is taking them lightly.
“There is full respect for them. Winning is a hard thing to do, so there’s full respect to them for that.
“We’re expecting a tough game, but we have to be at our game and showcase our personality.
“We’ll look to do that from minute one and, hopefully, we can get the job done.”
Sinisalo has consistently performed well since being brought into the first team for the Europa League encounter against VfB Stuttgart on February 26 with Schmeichel’s season coming to a premature conclusion.
The agile shotstopper locked out the Germans on their own ground as an early goal from Luke McCowan gave the visitors a 1-0 win.
Since then, Sinisalo has played in thirteen successive games – and hopes to have a winner’s medal to show for his fourteenth outing in a row.
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