Celtic lost the Scottish Cup final to Aberdeen a couple of weeks ago and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was criticised for his performance in the game.
The Celtic veteran has now spoken to Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet and was asked about how he’s dealt with waves of criticism from fans on social media, with him also being on the end of some negative Danish reports in recent times.
The Dane stated: “I have never read what the media writes about me and I don’t follow social media either, because there will always be opinions, there will always be criticism and praise, so you have to tackle it all the same way.”
Speaking specifically about the Scottish Cup final loss, Schmeichel explained that he likes the pressure that comes with being a goalkeeper and it’s routinely life on a knife edge.
“That’s life as a goalkeeper. I love the pressure and the fact that you always live on the edge. That’s just how it is to be a goalkeeper. It’s always the smallest margins that determine whether you have a decisive role.”
The Celtic goalkeeper explained that goalkeepers are always in the firing line, more so than other players who make mistakes, and he used the Aberdeen defeat as an example of that.
“When towards the end of the final against Aberdeen we blew a kick that could have decided the game in our favour, it wasn’t a focus point after the game. It was my mistake that was talked about. It’s just life as a goalkeeper.”
Speaking further about the criticism that has been aimed at him, the Celtic player said his father taught him not to read too much of what people say.
“I was born in the 80s and was a child in the 90s. Fortunately, I grew up without the technology we have today, where input comes from everywhere. All the time.
“I am also very lucky to have a father who has tried a lot of things in the world of football. He gave me advice very early in my career that I have chosen to follow: He told me not to read what was written about me.”
The 38-year-old’s mental strength clearly shines through in the interview and that is perhaps a key reason why he is still playing at a high level.
Schmeichel proved to be a key player for Celtic during the 2024/25 season and was vital in the Scottish League Cup final win over Rangers earlier in the campaign.
That Aberdeen match, though, clearly stings, even if the loss wasn’t all his fault.
