To the untrained eye, it might have looked as though the Celtic defence could have swapped their boots for slippers the last time they took on Aberdeen, such was the Pittodrie side’s hesitation to as much as approach the halfway line.
In an Ange Postecoglou team though, there are no days off, as Cameron Carter-Vickers knows all too well. And even in that one-sided encounter, incredibly only settled with a late Callum McGregor strike, he explains that the centre-backs were still expected to do their fair share of the heavy lifting.
In fact, the more dominant Celtic are in a game, Carter-Vickers argues the more responsibility falls on his and – usually – Carl Starfelt’s shoulders, with their manager expecting them to not only be the catalyst for Celtic attacks, but piling the other players forward and leaving them one-on-one at the back.
So, however Aberdeen caretaker manager Barry Robson approaches today’s match at Celtic Park, Carter-Vickers is keen to assure his task won’t be as straightforward as he will no doubt typically make it appear to be.
“To be honest, I’m not too sure what to expect, because the manager who was there the last time we played them isn’t there now,” Carter-Vickers said.
“So, they might come out with something different. But even in that game up in Aberdeen, it might not have looked like we as defenders or defensive players had a lot to do, but it was all about keeping concentration.
“A lot of times in that game it was two v two with half a pitch behind us, which can at times be difficult to deal with.
“So, no matter how they set up, it’s going to be a challenge for us, and we are aware we will have to be up for it to get something out of the game.
“Playing for the manager here you are aware that you are going to have a lot of the ball and you have to be good in that aspect of the game.
“But also, there are a lot of different types of defending. A lot of the time, people only appreciate or notice when maybe the other team is on top, and you are around your box a lot.
“It is equally as difficult, if not more difficult sometimes, when you are having to defend one v one with loads of space in behind you and not much cover.
“So, there are different types of defending, and they can both be difficult.”
The Celtic defence appear to be handling that responsibility just fine, having lost just 18 goals in their 25 Premiership matches so far this season.
For Carter-Vickers though, any praise for that record has to be duly apportioned among the collective unit.
“I think it’s just the hard work paying off for us,” he said. “We work really hard not only as a back four, but as the entire team.
“That’s the way we want to defend, the attacking players start it really with their pressing and their off the ball work, and when they do that then it helps us massively the back.
“It’s a combination of things, but it all comes down to the hard work and the things we work on day-in day-out showing through.
“Nowadays, what your defenders do on the ball can massively affect your attacking players, and what your forward players do off the ball can massively affect your defenders.
“I think that’s how the game is now, and when team is in sync and doing all the right things offensively and defensively, then it definitely shows.”
