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IT ISN'T OVER UNTIL THE JAPANESE GENIUS SINGS
By Trialist
Shunsuke Nakamura insists that Celtic's Championship challenge goes on after the Hoops' back-to-back humpings of the Huns and our recent resurgence of form and results propelled Celtic five points clear in the Championship race.
However, the Japanese genius is also adamant that Celtic's three remaining SPL fixtures – Motherwell (A), Hibs (H) and Dundee United (A) – are just as important as the derby doubleheader in which Celtic humped the Huns 2-1 and then 3-2 to intensify the pressure on TFOD.
With Celtic currently on 80 points, the Hoops must target a final points tally of 89, which would mean the Huns having to win five of their remaining six League games to surpass that Celtic total. Fatigue, injuries, suspensions and the Huns' self-inflicted fixture congestion could yet be significant.
After Celtic's 3-2 victory over the Evil Empire on Sunday, Naka concluded: “The season isn't finished. We have three games to go and they are just as big and important as the O** F***.”
Naka continued: “We showed a lot of fight on Sunday and that must continue to the end. We had to beat Rangers and it was an incredible game. We lost two bad goals from set-pieces and that is something we need to work on. We must look at our defending.”
Naka added: “The O** F*** games are always special and Sunday was one of the best. We deserved to win because Rangers tired in the second half and we made a lot of chances.”
Shunsuke Nakamura was perhaps not quite as influential in Sunday's 3-2 victory over TFOD as he was in the 2-1 triumph over the Huns 11 days previously. In that Huns-skelping, Naka scored one of the best ever Celtic goals against the Evil Empire, with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink heading home the 94th minute match-winner.
However, Naka's performance on Sunday could easily be explained by the fact that he sustained an ankle injury in training prior to Sunday's derby and that he was suffering from a fever.
Naka said: “I did not sleep well before the game because I had a fever. I did not feel well and was not fit to be honest. But the Manager still chose me to play and I was happy to do that for him.”
Naka continued: “It wasn't my best game because I felt tired in my legs. I played for 90 minutes and tried my best all the time.”
Naka added: “I spent a lot of time chasing Rangers players when they attacked and, by the end, I found it difficult to even walk.”
Nevertheless Shunsuke Nakamura more than played his part in Celtic's 3-2 humping of the Huns on Sunday, when Scott McDonald scored early and late in the first period, with Weir and Cousin's headed goals sandwiched between the Australian's strikes.
Of course, Barry Robson scored Celtic's match-winning goal from the penalty spot in the 70th minute, though Shunsuke Nakamura revealed he was designated penalty kick taker after first choice Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's substitution five minutes before Scott McDonald was brought down by Kirk Broadfoot and the penalty was awarded.
Shunsuke Nakamura said: “I was selected as the second penalty taker on Sunday after Jan so when he went off I was supposed to replace him if we got any. But when we won the penalty, Barry didn't wait to see who was supposed to take it and grabbed the ball from Georgios Samaras.”
Naka continued: “I had no chance of telling him it was supposed to be me. I don't think he knew that. When I saw the two of them arguing over who was going to take it, I didn't want to get involved. It would not have felt right for me also to be asking for the ball.”
Naka added: “There was no stopping Barry and he took it brilliantly. I was delighted for him that he scored. He made a good decision.”
Yep, no complaints, and how much is Barry Robson growing into that Celtic shirt.
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