Kristoffer Ajer

Thought he was done quite easily by their Brazilian in the first allowed a dangerous ball that could have led to a goal.

Overall though, he was excellent again if he can add goals, to go with all his other attributes, the best being leadership - then wow..

 

At six foot five inches in his stocking feet, Kristoffer Ajer doesn’t look like an obvious candidate for a mugging. And the Celticdefender was adamant that there was no way anyone was stealing his moment as he netted the opening goal against Estonian minnows Nomme Kalju. Leigh Griffiths seemed to initially try to pinch the credit with Ajer quickly shooshing him off.

"I can't believe they are trying to take the goal off me again,” joked the Norwegian defender. "I have scored twice now and Scott Sinclair has tried to claim one, and Griff the other. That's strikers for you but it's all good.”

Ajer’s bigger fight might not be in claiming goals but in hanging on to his shirt. The 21-year-old has matured over the last season and has become a trusted member of the Celtic backline but with Christopher Julien waiting on the wings and further arrivals anticipated in this window, the expectancy is that there will be competition for places.

That may alter somewhat if Lille’s interest in Jozo Simunovic crystalises. The Croatian defender is suspended for Celtic’s opening two league games against St Johnstone and Motherwell after a reckless red card against St Gallen earlier this month in a friendly.


That will open the door to a different defensive partnership with Ajer keen to ensure he makes his mark.

"It's a really healthy mindset to not think you are better than the last game you played,” he said. "There are a lot of top-quality centre halves ready to take your place if you don't perform. I know that every single time I go on the pitch I need to perform and that's what will keep driving me on to become better.

“Chris [Julien] will bring great experience to the team. He has been good in training and he is a great leader. He talks a lot and he will bring a lot to us, for sure.”

It is a measure of Ajer’s progress that there was a nervousness about the support this time a year ago when Dedryck Boyata was in meltdown as he tried to force an exit from the club. There were question marks over Ajer’s suitability going into the Champions League qualifiers whereas this term there appears to be a level of confidence shown in the 21-year-old.


It's normal when you are a young player and you haven't proved you can play that there will be doubts,” he said. "You have to play games to show you are good enough but I feel I have now taken steps. The more games I play, the more I learn the role. So I feel much better than I did 12 months ago.

"Do I feel the fans trust me now? Yes, but there is always the expectation to go and perform every single week. That's one of the best things about playing for Celtic - there is always pressure. You can never be complacent and I really enjoy that.”

John Kennedy has been a willing tutor for the youngster who has moved back from central midfield. The former Celtic defender has worked with Ajer on the training ground, with the Norwegian internationalist a willing listener.

"I have been working closely with John Kennedy from day one at Celtic,” said Ajer. "We speak after every single session and we look at clips following every match, to help develop my game. He has been unbelievable for me and he is a great person to learn from. It's good that he has stayed on under the new gaffer. He's a very professional guy and every single player in the squad respects him."

 

John Kennedy is a * coach but

 

It’s never been his player development that’s been in question. It’s his work with the group as a whole and how they work as a unit. People just wondered what his contribution was on that side of things.

 

He's absolutely been overly criticised over the years. Everyone connected with the club have nothing but good things to say about him

 

I 100% agree. I know this is true, because I was one of the guys who criticised him unfairly. Anytime something went wrong, I'd start thinking of his role and whenever anything went well, I'd automatically discount his part. It's a bit like some folk with Brown.

Anyway, we all seem to have caught up with his contribution these days.

 

They are hardly going to come out and criticise him though.

 

Well of course, but everything points to him being a valuable member of the backroom team.

I assume you are one of those who have been quite scathing?

 

If he's so * why do we only ever hear positives about him from those he has coached?

 

I wouldn’t say scathing. I’ve never been scathing towards a player or member of staff. I’ve just questioned in the past what his role in the defensive training was as a unit as we’d often look lost especially defending set pieces.

 

Thats my point

 

Read back, got you now.

 

It's not unreasonable to question their roles, we do the same with players and managers.
My issues with it was always we had * Danny McGrain and Kolo Toure as coaches the past few years and people were targeting Kennedy as a scapegoat. Set pieces weren't good enough for a while and I think Kennedy did mention at one point that he has to shoulder some of the blame for that but it's also the manager (Deila and Rodgers) and the players themselves that are to blame for that.

People actively wanted him out, you may not have been scathing but many were disrespectful as *, despite not knowing the exact role he has and how hes doing it.

No coincidence that hes surviving his 3rd manager, now as assistant and everyone talks him up. Hes clearly a good coach

 

Had a poor season but for me he should be alongside Julien each week with another good centre back signed and Jozo plus some kids for backup.

 

Had a poor season???

 

I'd say yes. For me his worst since he arrived and i felt he regressed which was worrying.
He was a rare bright spark about Deila's reign. hope he kicks on again now.

 

Aye I remember seeing other people being harsh. But it happens all the time with players, managers and coaches. Goes back to my comment in the Boli thread, Celtic fans can be fickle as *.

 

Aye we can agree there. Fickle.