Benjamin Siegrist has opened up on building bonds with his new Celtic team-mates over the NFL and Love Island.
Ange Postecoglou snapped up the former Dundee United goalkeeper as he continues to add to his ranks this summer. The Swiss goalie has penned a four-year deal with the Hoops and will provide competition to No1 Joe Hart and Scott Bain. He joins Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota, Alexandro Bernabei and Daizen Maeda in joining the club on a permanent basis.
Celtic are currently in Austria as they continue preparations for the big season ahead. The Scottish champions will be looking to make it back-to-back successes as they defend their league crown they won from Rangers while they will be aiming to make a splash in the Champions League as they mix it with Europe's big boys in the group stages of the competition.
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Siegrist has opened up on links to Albian Ajeti, Giorgos Giakoumakis and Christopher Jullien as he looks to build up bonds at Celtic. He knows the French stopper is a huge fan of the NFL and has used that as a talking point while the squad are also watching Love Island.
He told Celtic TV: “I think you’ve got to get to know everyone and try to speak with every player by having dinner or lunch with them all.
“I like to sit and chat to everyone and have jokes off the pitch, but when it’s time to work, then it’s time to work.
'I want the boys and the coaches to have trust in me, and those little conversations can make the difference.'
“You spend a lot of time together when you’re here, so it’s important for both football and social reasons.
“I haven’t been away with my previous clubs a lot so I guess I’m trying to make the most of it and speak to as many boys as I can and they're making an effort with me as well.”
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He continued: “I think you have to make more of an effort but the boys have been so good, it’s been seamless and as if I’ve been here for quite some time.
“I know them a little, but it’s always nice to know them better off the pitch. There are lots of different nationalities and everyone has their story and you never know if you’ve crossed paths before.
“I know Albian Ajeti from back in the day and I have teammates that played with Giorgos Giakoumakis in VVV-Venlo and one that played with Chris Jullien in Freiburg, so you try and make a connection.
“For example, I now know Jullien likes the NFL, something I like as well, so we have bonded right away talking about that. Then with the boys watching Love Island, people are bonding over that as well, so it’s all going good.”
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