Alex Valle says he wants to rack up as many trophies as possible at Celtic this season – whether or not he’s back in Glasgow next term.
The Spanish left-back is currently on loan at Parkhead from Barcelona after arriving in the summer. With Greg Taylor out injured, Valle has grabbed his chance in Brendan Rodgers’ starting line-up and was terrific in their Champions League draw against Atalanta on Wednesday night.
The 20-year-old is due to return to the Catalan giants next summer but could become a permanent target for the Hoops if he continues to impress. Valle admits he’s loving life in Glasgow under Rodgers and is eager to get his hands on silverware – irrespective of what the future might hold.
He said: “At the moment, I’m just looking forward to this season, I just go year-by-year. I don’t know what will happen in the future. But I’m enjoying it here. I love this city, it’s been great for me so far. First of all, I want to learn as much as I can here.
“I’m a young player so it’s really important to play as much as I can and develop. Then, if trophies come I’ll be happy, of course. That’s what we want, everyone at Celtic, the fans and the players. It’s normal that we want to achieve that. We want to win as many trophies as we can this season.”
When any new player signs for Celtic they often need a coming-of-age performance to officially announce their arrival. For Valle, it felt like it came in Bergamo on Wednesday night. It was his first ever start in the Champions League. Away from home against the Europa League holders and Serie A top scorers. Just to survive in that environment – or at least emerge unscathed – would have been a feat for the 20-year-old.
But instead, the Spanish left-back excelled. His display against Atalanta on their own patch was his best for the Hoops since being snapped up on loan from Barcelona. And it contributed to one of the club’s most impressive European results in recent history, as they left Italy with a point after their goalless draw. Valle was excellent in defence in the absence of injured Taylor.
Right now, this shirt is his and – given his performance against Gian Piero Gasperini’s side – the Scot now has a fight on his hands to get it back. Valle has had to bide his time in a bid to establish himself in Celtic’s team. But he was delighted to play his part in midweek. And after returning to Glasgow, he says HOW they got a result, as opposed to the result itself, has given everyone in Rodgers’ squad a huge injection of belief.
They’re fighting on four fronts this season, domestically and in Europe, and as they prepare for a trip to Fir Park to face Motherwell today, Valle said: “It was a great feeling on Wednesday night – not just because of the result – but the way we did it. We showed a great shape off the ball which sometimes here in the Scottish league, we might not show all the time.
“We stayed together and managed to get a point in a really difficult match against the Europa League winners. So we were really happy because we now know that, as a team, we can play in a different way. We now know that – if we stay together as a team – we can manage to do great things.
“We didn’t have the possession at all times in the game against Atalanta. But we still had a few chances. So it proves that if you stay together, anything is possible. And from a personal point of view, it was my first start in a Champions League match so I was really pleased.”
Taylor has been a first-pick for Rodgers since he returned to the club as gaffer. But Valle is now giving him a brilliant option at left-back, even with the Scotland international gradually returning to fitness. Valle rates Taylor highly but isn’t afraid of going toe-to-toe for the shirt.
He said: “The competition between myself and Greg is really healthy. He’s a great person and a great player also. It was unfortunate for Greg to get injured but these things happen in football. But it has given me the opportunity to come into the team. I’ve tried to take my chance and give the best I can. Whether I stay in there is not my decision, I’m just trying to do everything I can in every game and training session.”
For any young foreign player coming into the Scottish Premiership, it will always take time to adjust. Not just on the pitch, but off it as well. But Celtic fans will be delighted to know that Valle is relishing the challenge of playing for the club and promised them he’s only going to get better. Crucially, he’s also embracing life in Glasgow too. Whether Rodgers will want to try and keep him here beyond next summer remains to be seen.
But Valle said: “This move has been great for me so far. I have full confidence in myself, my team-mates, the staff – everyone at the club.
“They’ve been really close to me and they’ve helped me a lot. The city of Glasgow is awesome, I really like it. I’m really happy here.
“I’ve been settling in the city and at the club but it takes time, especially because of the style and the way we play. It’s different to where I’ve come from. So I’ve had to adapt and get better in every game. With confidence and getting minutes, I’ve been improving every week. But I still think I can do more and go even further.
“I’m still finding myself here but I’m getting more confident. The style of play in Scotland is not totally different to Spain but certain aspects are. It’s definitely more physical here, there is more contact. But at Celtic we’re used to having the ball a lot, which is the same as at Barcelona. So in that aspect, I’m fairly comfortable.”
If Valle gets the nod to start in Lanarkshire today, he’ll certainly be tested against Stuart Kettlewell’s side. Motherwell has been a difficult venue for Celtic recently – with Rodgers’ side needing injury time goals in both of their fixtures there last season. Valle knows how tough it will be after coming down from the high of Bergamo – but wants Celts to take their Champions League resilience into the league.
He said: “It’s a hard thing to do, coming back from a European match to play in a tough Scottish league game. But we have to show our strength from the Champions League and take that into Sunday’s game, which will be difficult. We have to be as competitive as we can to try and win the game.”