CAMERON CARTER-VICKERS put himself through the agony of viewing the six-goal hammering against Atletico Madrid – and now the USA World Cup centre-back is ready to go again against Aberdeen at Parkhead tomorrow.
The rugged defender was helpless to stem the red-and-white tide that battered Joe Hart’s goal in the Metropolitano Stadium as Celtic slumped to a humbling defeat.
The cause of Brendan Rodgers and his players wasn’t helped by the harsh dismissal of Daizen Maeda in the 22nd minute with the score just 1-0 at the time following Antoine Griezmann’s early strike.
THE BEGINNING OF THE END…Antoine Griezmann (right) fires Atletico Madrid into the lead as Cameron Carter-Vickers and Callum McGregor end up in a heap.
The roof collapsed on the visitors in a one-sided second-half, but Carter-Vickers insists the champions must put the horror show behind them and make sure there are no slips when the Dons provide the opposition.
Rodgers’ men go into the confrontation with an eight-point advantage at the Premiership pinnacle after 10 wins and two draws from their first 12 league games as they pursue their twelfth title success in 13 years.
Reflecting on events in the Spanish capital, Carter-Vickers said: “It was disappointing to lose the game and by that many goals.
“Any time you get beat by six it’s frustrating. With 11 men we were competing very well against them and then the sending-off made it harder for us.
“I still think after being down to 10 men we could have done more as a team to limit the amount of goals they scored.
ON THE BALL…Cameron Carter-Vickers in control.
“It’s difficult because they are a top quality side and in a lot of their goals we were in good positions, but their quality showed.
“We looked back at it as a team and worked out where we can do better and now it’s all about the weekend.”
Following the Champions League opening-day 2-0 loss to Feyenoord in Rotterdam, Rodgers’ side bounced back to beat Livingston 3-0 in West Lothian.
Likewise in the aftermath of the 2-1 defeat against Lazio, the players rallied to beat Kilmarnock 3-1 at Parkhead.
Now the Hoops are gearing to respond from another European setback against Barry Robson’s side.
Carter-Vickers, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “Every individual player is different. There are players in the team who can use that emotion and take it into Sunday, but for me personally, I’m frustrated for 24 hours, I recap on the game and move on.
“Regardless if we had got a positive or negative result, we would have been looking to go into Aberdeen and win the game – the result doesn’t have a consequence on Sunday.
“You’re emotional for 24 hours and then you have to look at it with a clear head and break down what you could have done better and then you move on – that’s how football works.
A BIG HAND…Cameron Carter-Vickers acknowledges the Celtic support.
“With a schedule like ours we are playing every three or four days, so you can’t spend too long dwelling on it.”
The rock-solid pivot also applauded the spirit of his defensive team-mate Liam Scales who will be playing against the Pittodrie outfit after spending last season on loan in the north east.
Carter-Vickers added: “From day one in pre-season, he came in and worked hard and he has taken his opportunity and is playing really well.
“That’s the most impressive thing that three months ago he might have thought his Celtic career was over and he got his chance and was mentally ready to take it.”
