Life in Glasgow is far different from when Craig Burley was donning the Celtic colours.
When Burley moved to Celtic Park in 1997, Rangers were the dominant side in Scotland, and the ten-in-a-row was about to be stopped.
The Scottish midfielder would spend two seasons in the green and white colours, and that was enough time for him to get to know and understand the pressures of playing for Celtic.
Including the fact that Burley played a key role in stopping Rangers’ dominance, and since then, Celtic have flown the flag like nobody else before.
But when discussing matters in the Premier League, including the race to finish in the Champions League places – the top five for English teams.
Burley proceeded to give Celtic a mention…
12 Aug 1998: Goran Juric of Croatia Zagreb is challenged by Craig Burley of Celtic during the Champions League Qualification match at Park Head Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland. Celtic won the game 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Clive Brunskill /Allsport
12 Aug 1998: Goran Juric of Croatia Zagreb is challenged by Craig Burley of Celtic during the Champions League Qualification match at Park Head Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland. Celtic won the game 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Clive Brunskill /Allsport
Craig Burley on the pressure of playing for Celtic in title battle with Rangers
Back then, you could call it a title battle; now, Celtic are walking to trophies, and the signs suggest that it will continue for years to come.
But Burley told ESPN that he always ‘preferred to play early’ when in title battles with Rangers, but for TV purposes, as is still the case, one would play on the Saturday, and the other on the Sunday.
MORE CELTIC STORIES
Burley explained how he always wanted the ‘points on the board’, rather than the games in hand.
Burley was asked: “How does it feel when people have played before you, and then you know what you have to do, and you have to get those wins?”
Burley responded: “I always preferred to play early. When I was at Celtic, for example, and we were going for the title neck and neck with Rangers.
“The second half of the season, one of us would play on a Saturday and one would play on a Sunday for TV purposes. I much preferred to play on the Saturday and get it out of the way. And get the three points, hopefully, then put the pressure back on them.
“It’s a bit like when people say, ‘what would you rather have, the points in the bag? Or the games in hand?’ You would have the points in the bag, all day, every day. You have been there, rolled your sleeves up, and you have done it.”
Burley’s Celtic career in numbers
Burley had a strong start to his Celtic career, including bringing that goalscoring threat from the middle of the park.
Wim Jansen was the man who brought the midfielder-turned-pundit to Glasgow, but his exit, and later on, that ill-fated spell under John Barnes, would spell the end of his career at Celtic.
But still, Burley managed to add two trophies to his name.
Games Goals Trophies
77 26 2