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Channel: Shane Duffy – The Scottish Sun
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I’m a boyhood Celtic fan, but the pressure of playing for Hoops got to me – I didn’t want to let anyone down

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SHANE DUFFY has opened up on his nightmare spell at Celtic, admitting he struggled with the pressure of playing in Glasgow.

The Republic of Ireland defender, now 32, fulfilled his dream of playing for the Hoops when he joined on loan from Brighton during the 2020/21 season.

The Sun
Shane Duffy joined Celtic on loan from Brighton for the 2020/21 season[/caption]
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The defender struggled with his form in Glasgow[/caption]

It was a life-long ambition for the boyhood fan and it ended up being a year that he will never forget, but unfortunately for Duffy, for all the wrong reasons.

He couldn’t have picked a worse time to make the move to Glasgow as Celtic were chasing 10-in-a-row and had just one title to go under Neil Lennon.

The Celtic diehard made 27 appearances in all competitions but the move turned out to be a disaster as he failed to live up to expectations.

It ended in misery as Rangers went on to win the Premiership title, ending the Hoops’ hopes of getting the bragging rights with 10 consecutive league trophies.

Duffy didn’t leave empty-handed though as he helped Celtic win the Scottish Cup.

But the centre-back regrets his time up north and has blamed his disappointing spell on the pressures that come with playing for one of Glasgow’s big two.

He watched his international team-mate Adam Idah join the Hoops on deadline day earlier this month and has revealed that he urged the striker not to make the same mistake.

Speaking to the Daily Record, he said: “I spoke to him (Adam Idah) quite a lot about it (Celtic) because we’re from the same country and I played there.

“I just told him to go and enjoy it. I put too much pressure on myself when I went there because it’s a club I supported and didn’t want to let anyone down.

“It probably ended up as the opposite, where I didn’t do as well as I should have done there, I let the pressure get to me, all my friends and family are Celtic fans.

“I said to him to go and enjoy it and be yourself, don’t put too much pressure on yourself, it’s one of the best football clubs in the world and he’ll realise how big it is when he gets there.”

Duffy believes Idah will be a big hit in Scottish football.

The Norwich City loanee already has two goals to his name after netting twice from the penalty spot against Hibs at Easter Road.

The defender reckons his Irish pal will continue to deliver the goods for Celtic – as long as he stays confident in front of goal.

He continued: “His strengths are that he’s big, powerful, strong, and fast and he can score goals.

“If he believes in himself, which I’ve always told him to do, he will go and smash it in that league and hopefully get Celtic the title and the Scottish Cup.

“It’s down to himself, we all know the ability he has, and I’ve just said to him to use it, use the strengths and don’t worry about the weaknesses at the moment.”


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