Craig Gordon has no regrets about turning his back on a move to Chelsea.
In January 2017 the Londoners were looking for a reliable back-up keeper with the hoops keeper identified as their first pick.
A few months earlier Dorus de Vries had displaced Gordon as Celtic’s first choice keeper but the former Sunderland man forced his way back into the side.
Before joining Celtic in 2014 Gordon had missed out on three seasons through injury and was faced with a dilemma.
Chelsea could have offered him a big financial boost but also semi-retirement, at Celtic there was a more modest contract on the table but the option of glory under a progressive new manager.
“It was halfway through the Invincible Treble season,” Gordon recalled to Ladbrokes.
“Things were looking very good for us here and we really looked like we had a chance to make history and I think everybody felt that here at the club.
“It was a chance to be remembered for something extraordinary, which I think we will be.
“And to give that up to maybe go to Chelsea, who ended up winning the league that season, I probably wouldn’t have got a medal for not playing enough games, possibly sitting on the bench for long spells.
“Or give that up for the chance to make history and be remembered for something extra special in the end that’s what I decided to do.”
Gordon will be in the front line on Thursday night knowing that a clean sheet against RB Salsburg will ensure Europa League in the new year.
The hoops keeper will be 36 at the end of this year with his current contract running through until June 2020.
