HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Anita Marcos is loving her first year as a Celtic player, but getting home to Spain for Christmas is something she’s looking forward to

- PAUL CUDDIHY

IT was a big step for Anita Marcos when she made the move from Spain to Scotland, joining Celtic on loan from Atletico Madrid.

The arrival of the striker was a coup for the Hoops and manager, Fran Alonso, adding another talented player to the squad as it geared up for its first season as a professional outfit.

It has been a stop-start experience for the 20-year-old striker, with the country going into lockdown less than two months after her arrival in Scotland.

But now, with the Scottish Women’s Premier League season up and running, Anita is delighted to be playing football again, and is aiming to play her part in what she and her team-mates hope with be a successful campaign for the Hoops.

How have you enjoyed your first year with Celtic?

It’s my first year away from home, which has been a little bit difficult, but I’m happy I came here to achieve my goals. Right now, I feel that I’m growing day by day and, for me, the most important thing right now is to be a better player with this team and these players. So I’m very happy.

Was it difficult during the lockdown, and did you stay in Scotland or were you able to go home to Spain?

It has been a difficult time but we always need to look forward. I was in Scotland for two months before the lockdown and then I went back home to Spain for the last month-and-ahalf, and I needed to be at home with family and friends because it was a hard time and I was in Scotland alone. I was really worried for my family because, in Spain, COVID was so bad. Here in Scotland, it wasn’t so bad. So that was my biggest worry.