Viljami Sinisalo vows to push Kasper Schmeichel for Celtic goalkeeper spot

VILJAMI SINISALO wants to be Celtic’s No 1 — and has vowed to push Kasper Schmeichel all the way.

The Finnish keeper penned a five-year deal when he joined from Aston Villa for £1million last week.

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Veteran Danish skipper Schmeichel then signed a one-year contract.

Sinisalo, 22, knew the 37-year-old would be joining for the short-term, while he is there for the long-term.

But he’s determined to play as soon as possible, and said: “I’m here to win. I’m here to win as much as I can and I want to play. I want to be Celtic’s No 1 and that’s what we’re all here for. There is a long-term plan in place.

“I signed a five-year contract, but I’ll do my very best to make sure I’m Celtic’s No 1 as soon as I can be.

“That’s my goal and I want to be playing at Celtic Park every weekend, and every other week in Europe as well.

“That’s what I want. I’m sure we’ll get to that.

“I knew Kasper was coming in and there’s a plan for me.

“But I want to be Celtic’s goalie and I want to show that to everyone.

“If that takes six months, if that takes a year, if it takes two, I’ll be ready for that moment whenever it arises.

“I’ve got huge respect for Kasper. But we’re both here for the same reason.”

It won’t be his first taste of Scottish football — and he’s hoping it’ll be better than his last one.

Back in 2020, when football was tentatively starting up again in mid-Covid fan-free stadiums, Sinisalo was farmed out to Ayr United for the experience.

He was just 18 and had never lived alone before, never mind during a period when nobody was allowed to mix.

He stayed in a flat just along the road from the Royal Troon links and admits it wasn’t easy at times.

He recalled: “It helps that I’ve lived in Scotland before.

“Ayr was my first experience in men’s football and I learned so much. It was character-building — it was the pandemic, and I was living on my own for the first time ever, since moving to the UK.

“Obviously, nothing was open. It was Covid, there were no fans at games, no coffee shops to visit after training. You couldn’t really get out.

“You get used to playing in different conditions and different things are required of you.”

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Sinisalo isn’t the first Finnish goalie to arrive at the top level here.

Antti Niemi became a hero for Hearts after initially joining Rangers.

He was immortalised in that famous radio phone-in clip when a caller suggested he should be selected for Scotland by Craig Brown.

When it was pointed out he was Finnish, the caller replied that he was only 28!

Asked about that legendary moment on the airwaves, three-times capped Sinisalo added: “You know, funnily enough, when I signed for Burton on loan they used that as the announcement I had joined.

“I’ve heard that clip a couple of times. It’s funny. But Antti is a great man and works for Finland now.”

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