Elena Sadiku: We have put in the work ahead of derby day

Celtic F.C.

·11 April 2025

Elena Sadiku: We have put in the work ahead of derby day

After 16 days without a game, the Ghirls are back to league action this Sunday with a vital SWPL clash with Rangers at Broadwood Stadium (KO: 4.10pm).

And Elen Sadiku said that her squad are looking forward to the derby and the chance to get back to winning ways.

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Speaking ahead of Sunday's match, the Celtic Head Coach said: “It feels like forever since we last played. Obviously, we know about the history of the Glasgow derby, so we are very excited and looking forward to a great game.

“We have had eight or nine players away during the international break with their national teams, so training has been more focused on the technical principal aspect, and that is something the coaching staff and the players have done really well.

“We have had everybody back today. It was a great session in terms of the tactical part because it was more focused on that as a collective.

'We put in a lot of work to try and make sure that we put in a good performance and have a good game on Sunday.'

“We can’t focus on what has been and what other teams have done. For me, a derby is a different game.

“In terms of mentality and fight, it’s about showing up in a derby and making sure we don’t lose because we know what this game means.”

It is set to be another busy week for the Ghirls, with three games over the next seven days, and Elena Sadiku believes that the Celtic support will have a big part to play, starting this weekend.

“I think the message needs to be that it’s more about bringing excitement than nerves because excitement is what the feeling is in the camp,” she said.

“We are really eager to go out on Sunday and make sure that we show the best Celtic that we possibly can.

“We know the fans helped the girls a lot last time out at New Douglas Park because it was the first time we played at home in a long, long time.

'You can hear the fans, and we love that. We want to make sure that we perform for them, so that they can be proud us and cheer for the team that we love.'

“We all know that when we play against Rangers, the energy level is really needed because it’s a different kind of game.

“So we really need the fans behind us, and they have been showing that support no matter what. We are really excited to see them on Sunday and to hear them.”