Dorus de Vries is confident that he’ll iron out the teething troubles he endured on his Celtic debut.
The keeper came into the side based on his ability to pass the ball out from the back as much as his shot stopping ability.
Against Aberdeen there was one pass that landed Kolo Toure in trouble 20 yards from goal but fortunately Derek McInnes’ side were unable to capitalise.
In fifteen days time Celtic kick off their Champions League campaign in the Nou Camp with de Vries likely to be the last line of defence against Neymar, Suarez and Messi.
A lot of work will have to be put in on the training ground to get the keeper and defenders tuned in to the managers requirements but de Vries has no doubt that it will come good.
“I know the gaffer from working with him in the past and I know exactly what he expects from his goalkeepers,” the Dutchman explained.
“From the playing style I’m used to, back to my Swansea days under him, I’m there as an outlet to keep possession.
“Sometimes it’s a little bit harder to keep it and as a goalkeeper you play your part in that. You want to be good in ball possession and sometimes you force it a little bit and it doesn’t work out.
“There were two instances on Saturday when we overdid it but as a goalkeeper on your debut, you want to get to know the guys because you haven’t played together but it’s the learning process, getting to know the timing of it, when to do it, when not to do it.”
De Vries added: “I think goalkeepers being able to use the ball is an important part of the game. You can see more and more teams have been developing it in recent years.
“When you’re under pressure and you’re trying to keep ball possession you can catch teams out. That’s what happened on a couple of occasions in the first 20 minutes on Saturday, even under pressure we were trying to keep the ball.
“That’s not only from my point of view but also from players around the park — they’ve done really well to find a combination to get out and get a goal.”
“Knowing the gaffer always makes it easier but making your debut, you want to make a great impression.
“Sometimes as a goalkeeper that’s a little bit harder because you are not like an attacker where you can create things.”
