Anthony Ralston is feeling rejuvenated as he prepares for Celtic’s hectic festive campaign, having recently celebrated the Premier Sports Cup triumph with his family. While the rest of the squad embraced the Christmas party spirit following their Hampden success, including a lively night at the darts, Ralston chose a quieter path. The 26-year-old defender skipped the late-night celebrations to attend his four-year-old daughter Mila’s nursery nativity show the next morning.
Ralston shared his joy about the experience, saying, “The lads enjoyed themselves, and that’s important. But I had my wee girl’s Christmas show at 9am, so I cut my party short. Seeing her smile ear to ear when she spotted me in the front row made it all worthwhile. Her class put on a brilliant performance.” After the show, Ralston attempted to treat Mila to a toy, but she was too exhausted to fully enjoy the outing.
Despite the personal celebrations, Ralston and his teammates were also physically drained after their grueling two-hour match, which culminated in a dramatic penalty shootout to secure the League Cup trophy. Reflecting on the victory, Ralston said, “The way we won didn’t matter as long as we brought the trophy home. It was about determination and pushing to the very end. Kasper Schmeichel’s incredible save and the courage of the penalty takers were crucial to our success.”
Ralston remained largely detached from the post-match fallout, including Rangers’ frustrations over a contentious penalty decision. He insisted the controversy didn’t diminish the team’s achievement. “The officials made an on-field decision, and that’s not something we control. For us, the focus was always on winning the trophy, and that’s what we did. Opinions and debates are part of football, but they don’t affect the joy of our victory,” he said.
Adding another medal to his growing collection, Ralston now boasts 13 major honors with Celtic. However, he is not one to dwell on past successes. “I keep my medals safe, but there’s no time to admire them. At a club like this, the next challenge is always just around the corner. We enjoyed the weekend’s triumph, but now our focus shifts to the league,” he explained.
The festive period leaves little room for extended celebrations, with fixtures coming thick and fast. Celtic faces Dundee United on Sunday, followed by home matches against Motherwell and St. Johnstone. Ralston acknowledged the demands of this time of year, saying, “Christmas is always a busy period, but it’s also an opportunity to build momentum. At a club of this stature, there are no excuses. Whether it’s the league, cups, or Champions League, we approach every game with the aim of securing results.”
Ralston and his teammates are ready to embrace the challenges ahead, knowing that success during the festive season can lay the groundwork for another victorious campaign.
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