The finishing line is in sight for Carl Starfelt and his Celtic team-mates and the centre-half knows this is no time to ease of the accelerator as the club bid for a clean sweep of domestic honours.
The Viaplay Cup is already safely secured in the Parkhead trophy cabinet. A Scottish Cup final against Inverness lurks on the horizon but before that showpiece occasion at the national stadium, there is the small matter of a second consecutive cinch Premiership title to secure.
A point away to Hearts this afternoon will do just that and it is simply a matter of when, not if, the champions will retain their league crown – not that you’ll find many Celtic players willing to recognise that particular state of affairs.
Ange Postecoglou’s ‘we never stop’ mantra has become synonymous with the Greek-Australian’s tenure at the Glasgow club and you can bet your bottom dollar that the team won’t deviate from that mindset with another trophy within their grasp.
“Exactly,” Starfelt says. “We have done well but it is important now that we finish the season the right way. We have it all in our own hands to make this season a truly great way so it is all about staying focussed and keeping on going right until the end because it cannot be over for us until then.
“Our focus is on Sunday which is a huge game for us. We go to Tynecastle with the chance to seal the league title, which would be fantastic.
“It is tidy ground because it is always pretty loud and a little bit hostile. There can be some pressure on you when you play at Tynecastle so you need to be prepared for that.
“As a player you can enjoy these ones and because of that you look forward to them. We were really good there in the Scottish Cup quarter-final a few weeks ago but this is a new challenge.
“They have a new man in charge who has them playing a different way. As always our focus has to be on the football we want to play.”
That task to get the team’s title tilt over the line will be boosted by the presence of Kyogo Furuhashi in Gorgie this afternoon. The Japanese striker has been in scintillating form this term and is just one shy of the 30-goal mark for the season, and Starfelt has been as impressed as anyone by his team-mate’s displays over the course of the campaign.
“Kyogo has been outstanding for us this season,” Starfelt said. “He was really good last season as well but now it feels like he is only getting better and better.
“He is working so hard as well. We are happy to see him get his rewards in terms of the goals because he also works extremely hard defensively. He is a really good player and I have no doubt he will keep scoring goals.”
Furuhashi’s ruthless nature in front of goal has led to some flattering comparisons with Celtic legend Henrik Larsson of late but perhaps unsurprisingly, Starfelt is wary of wading into that particular debate.
“It is hard to make a fair comparison because Larsson was here for a very long time and is a club legend but I can see why people do because they are both very good players,” the defender says diplomatically.
Naturally, he is quick to praise his team-mate but as a Swede, he is all-too-aware of his compatriot’s legacy at Parkhead and beyond – and would rather not be chased by a crowd with pitchforks next time he returns to his homeland.
“Ha! Of course, Larsson was outstanding for Sweden and won the Champions League as well so he is a legend back home too,” Starfelt replied when the notion was put to him. “Kyogo’s potential is very high so we will see at the end of his career how well he did.”
