IN SAFE HANDS

Vasilis Barkas on settling in Scotland and the passion he’s observed at Celtic so far

- JOE DONNELLY

PROFILE Vasilis Barkas

Position: GoalkeeperSquad Number: 1 D.O.B: 30/05/94Born: Zetten, Netherlands Height: 6’5” Signed: 30/08/20Debut: v Kilmarnock (a) 1-1, (SPFL) 09/08/20Previous Clubs: AEK Athens, Atromitos

IF Vasilis Barkas is still adjusting to the Scottish game following his move from AEK Athens this summer, he didn’t show it on Saturday.

In the wake of his confident clean sheet during the Hoops’ 5-0 rout of Ross County, the Greek stopper said the style of play and the pace of the Premiership is different from what he’s used to, and while constantly learning in his new role, he feels he’s now turned a corner at Celtic.

A string of vital saves when Neil Lennon’s men were 2-0 up at the Global Energy Stadium not only kept his side in front, it gave them impetus to press in the final third and return a scoreline worthy of their second-half dominance.

“It was not so easy for me in the opening weeks because I was coming from another country and the football here is different,” said Barkas in his post-match interview. “There is more heart here amongst the players. Also, things like a lot of the matches have rain, so the pitches are faster, and that is something which you have to adjust to.

“These are the things you start to find out. I can get better because I will get more and more used to the different situations which will come to me.”