Cameron Carter-Vickers is determined to ensure that next week in the Bernabeu isn’t his Champions League farewell.
After a number of seasons out on loan in the English Championship the former Spurs defender has experienced a very steep learning curve over the last two months, mixing it with some of Europe’s top strikers.
Carter-Vickers, Greg Taylor, Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley have looked comfortable playing in the Champions League but only by retaining the SPFL Premiership title will the hoops get an invite back into next season’s competition.
Two draws and three defeats doesn’t seem like a very appealing run of results but the stand-in Celtic captain is keen for another crack at it all again next season.
Carter-Vickers told The Sun:
It has made us want more of it. Definitely. The results haven’t been great, we know we’re not there yet — but we’ve still shown we can compete at this level. Within this group, we feel we can get there eventually.
For a large number of us, playing Champions League has been a new experience. It was always going to take a bit of time to adjust but, I think we’ve all grown in belief and become better players for the experience.
I actually think we’ve done well without getting the results we all wanted. We’ve still got another game to go, away to Real Madrid, and that will be another fantastic experience but like I say, we also want to get a result.
I feel good. It’s been challenging, but at the same time it’s been good to match up with some of the best teams, some of the best players in the world and I’ve enjoyed it. One hundred per cent we want to get back to the Champions League.
With a four point lead at the top of the Premiership Celtic have made a strong start to this season but with four matches before the World Cup break on November 12 and trips to Pittodrie, Easter Road and Ibrox in the fortnight after the break the next batch of fixtures will have a big impact on how the SPFL shapes up.