Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Some difference between our players and the hun scum.

 

He was about to call Sakala a pro footballer then called him a "professional sportsman" instead

 

Everything Cameron Carter-Vickers had to say in his pre-match press conference before Celtic face Rangers at Hampden in the League Cup final.

How excited are you for this match and how important is it for the club in the context of the season?

I am excited about it. It is a final and every player wants to play in finals. We are looking forward to it and every player just wants to perform to their best.

What is the main reason for your recent defensive success?

I think it is down to a number of things. Our defensive work starts from the front with our attacking players pressing the ball and trying to regain the ball as high up the pitch as possible. For me, it is about consistency as the more you play with players, the more you get to know them and the better things become.

How important was it to win the trophy last year?

It was definitely a big moment for me as it was the first trophy I won. For the group, I think it definitely gave us a boost and helped us push on last season.

Will the result this weekend have an impact on other competitions?

Maybe, as momentum is a factor in football and it could affect that. We are clear that it is separate from the league and the Scottish Cup. It is one game and a final. It might not have much bearing on anything else but we are definitely going to go out there and try and win the game.

How different are the matches against Rangers from other games in Scotland?

They are always competitive. It is always a physical game against Rangers. Us and them are probably the two best teams in the country so we are fully aware we are up against good players. We will be up for it.




What surprised you about the rivalry when you experienced it for the first time?

Probably the atmosphere. My first game against Rangers was the midweek game last season and the noise was ridiculous. It did take me by surprise but I am used to it now and it is definitely a great environment to play in.

How do you expect Rangers to approach the game given it is not at Ibrox or Celtic Park?

I think they will obviously go out to try and win the game and they did that the last time we played them. We will do the same and when two teams do that it makes for a good game.





You are obviously a defender in a very attacking side. Does it sometimes give your attackers more space in behind when a team does come out against you?

It definitely can. When teams press us up high, it definitely gives us the chance to get in behind them. With the way we train we prepare for all sorts of situations. If they do sit back then we have solutions to break that down and if they do come and press us then we have solutions to get out of that.

Do you think the equal split of fans on Sunday will add to the spectacle and do you think it should be like that during the home games?

Yeah, I think on Sunday it will be 50/50 and that will certainly add to the atmosphere. I think when both teams have equal support, it definitely adds to the atmosphere.



I wonder if I can get your response to Fashion Sakala's recent comments?

For me, I've got no problem with it. Every professional sportsman has to have some level of self-belief to get to where they are. For me, it's a normal comment for a professional sportsman to make."






What is training like in the lead-up to a match like this and are the boys talking about the match a lot?

A little bit. For us, it is just about us keeping doing what we have been doing as it has brought us success so far. We don't need to change much.

When you are away with the national team, do any of the American boys speak to you about this fixture?

They do. Celtic v Rangers games are big fixtures. It is known around the world and some of the players ask me about the atmosphere and what it is like to play in them

 

Cameron Carter Vickers 'would expect' Rangers trash talk from Sakala




Carter-Vickers does not immediately to spring to mind as one of Ange Postecoglou’s attacking threats – but he does have previous in this fixture. It’s closing in on a year since he scored at Ibrox to put the final nail in the coffin of Rangers’ Premiership title defence. He’d surely love to do it again, wouldn’t he?

“Yeah, but I don’t mind who scores, really, as long as we win the game,” the 25-year-old said. “To score in that game was good. I would have liked to have scored a little bit later on to win the match as the second half was a little bit harder work. It was a great feeling though.

“Am I due a goal? You never know. It’s not really something I’ve been thinking about or am looking to do. But of course, it would be nice to score at Hampden.”


So it comes as no surprise that Fashion Sakala’s cup final fighting talk simply washed over him. The Rangers winger broke rank from such press conference staples as ‘we’re looking forward to it’, ‘the lads are ready’ and ‘yeah, no, as I say…’ to declare his club ‘much better’ than ‘the other mob’ earlier this week.

A headline writer’s dream, but enough to make a club PR look for the nearest hole in the ground to swallow them up. Carter-Vickers, though, doesn’t really understand the fuss. He’s got a point – Sakala was never going to say he preferred Celtic, was he?



To be honest it’s something I’d expect him to say,” the Parkhead defender shrugged. “When you are a professional athlete, you need to have self-belief and confidence, otherwise you won’t get to the level you want.

“It doesn’t bother me. It’s a normal thing to think or say. We don’t need any extra motivation, 100 percent. We want to be at our best and to win the game.”

The USA international is similarly unmoved by the form of countryman Malik Tillman across the city. The pair first crossed path at a training camp in summer 2022, and Carter-Vickers admits he knew the Bayern Munich loanee would be a good fit at Ibrox.



He’s also no stranger to Todd Cantwell, Rangers’ January arrival from Norwich, after a loan spell at Bournemouth in 2020. But he won’t spend too much time – if any – worrying about who will line-up across the field at Hampden. Celtic, after all, have more than enough in their armoury to ensure it’s they who lift the trophy come Sunday evening.

“I first camp with Malik was last summer and you could see the quality he has,” Carter-Vickers said. “I’m not surprised he’s started to perform for Rangers and has for a while now. He’s a good player.



I’ve played against Todd Cantwell in the Championship and he has a lot of quality. We’re well aware these guys can cause us trouble.

“We have players who can do the same. The way the manager thinks, it’s about focusing on our performance and getting to the levels we know we can. With that the results will come.”



Carter-Vickers does not immediately to spring to mind as one of Ange Postecoglou’s attacking threats – but he does have previous in this fixture. It’s closing in on a year since he scored at Ibrox to put the final nail in the coffin of Rangers’ Premiership title defence. He’d surely love to do it again, wouldn’t he?

“Yeah, but I don’t mind who scores, really, as long as we win the game,” the 25-year-old said. “To score in that game was good. I would have liked to have scored a little bit later on to win the match as the second half was a little bit harder work. It was a great feeling though.

“Am I due a goal? You never know. It’s not really something I’ve been thinking about or am looking to do. But of course, it would be nice to score at Hampden.”

 

This guy is incredible,

 

Collosal, that bit of defending at 0-0 was an utter joke.

 

Colossus.

 

No words.
THAT tackle was a game winner.
He makes all the difference at the back.

 

He's a rock.

The match defining tackle was world class.

 

Does he ever have a bad game?

Seriously, he's been here two years now and I've yet to see him perform below an 8.

He is the very personification of No Pasaran.

 

Best defender since.......

Ill go first. Paul Elliot.

 

Immense again yesterday. A real leader too with or without the captain's armband. Best CB we've had since Van Dijk.

 

Don't want to be negative on a beautiful day like this, but teams will swarm us for CCV this summer :/

How long left on his contract? We should be looking at record breaking fees in all honesty because he is that * good.

 

Signed this summer on a 4 year contract, so has 3 left in the summer

 

I don’t even think it can be debated now that he’s playing at a level which VVD never reached here. Not saying he’ll go on to be as good as him (he’s got it in his locker) but in terms of celtic performances he’s now ahead of him.