Kasper Schmeichel: 'Massive' Celtic are a club that 'always appealed to me'

Kasper Schmeichel has revealed that Celtic are a club that has always appealed to him as he prepares to make his competitive debut this weekend.

The Denmark captain says the size of the club, the chance to work under Brendan Rodgers again and the opportunity to play in Champions League and Old Firm matches at Celtic Park was too good an opportunity to turn down.

Following Joe Hart’s retirement at the end of last season, the Hoops have opted to go down the route of experience again by signing the 38-year-old former Leicester and Man City stopper who has over 100 international caps.

And as the champions prepare to begin the defence of their Premiership title at home to Kilmarnock on Sunday, he admits he can’t wait to get started.

Speaking on Thursday, he said: “I’ve settled in nicely, they’ve made it very easy for me. It’s a good group of people, so yeah, it’s been nice.

“There’s many (draws of Celtic), firstly the size of the club, it’s a massive club with worldwide recognition, being part of a winning culture was a big thing for me, you’re coming to a place where you are expected to win every single game and that was something that definitely appealed to me.

“Obviously the prospect of European football and playing in Old Firm games was also part of it.

“When I look back on my career, the times when I was probably at my best and happiest was under Brendan at Leicester, that was the time when I enjoyed football the most and I have a lot of positive memories from that time, so the chance to work with him again was a big thing and I am very grateful to him for giving me this opportunity.

“There was always something with Celtic, for some reason, with the likes of Thomas Gravesen and Morten Wieghorst playing here, and it’s just a club that always appealed to me in some kind of way and in the last few years with Joe (Hart) coming here I followed the results more than ever.

“And I think, particularly having played in Scotland as a youngster, you always get the impression of the size of the club, because back then it was never Falkirk getting the headlines, it was always Celtic so it was clear how big a club it is.

“I’m here to do a job and do the best that I can, and that is my focus, I’m not the kind of guy to sit here and say I’m going to do this or going to do that, I think the best goalkeepers are the ones you don’t notice that much, the one’s that are just consistently do a good job and that’s what I am here to do, I want to help this club to keep winning, to keep being the successful club that they are.”