Elena Sadiku has insisted that key Celtic star Caitlin Hayes is going nowhere.
The Irish internationalist has been subject of speculation across recent days about her immediate future but the Hoops boss has dismissed them. “Caitlin is here and will continue to play for the rest of season,” said Sadiku. “I believe she is going to be here.
If her agent has something to do with the rumours then that’s up to them but I have not heard anything. She is here and she is playing for Celtic.”
The SWPL gets back to business this weekend after their brief break with Sadiku’s sets firmly trained on defending the title. Celtic host Partick Thistle this afternoon with Sadiku accepting that the form across the opening half of the season has been compromised with the club’s Champions League campaign. “We have been inconsistent,” said Sadiku. “We have been in the Champions League for the first time and it is also the first time that we have gone into a league campaign as champions and with a title to defend.
“That is not an excuse. I have been incredibly proud of what we have achieved so far. We have been high and been low but if we keep our high more often then we know what a great team we are. The focus now is on domestic football.”
Sadiku’s side spent this week in Gran Canaria as they beat the chill of the arctic Glasgow temperatures. Captain Kelly Clark stayed home due to work commitments but Sadiku believes that it has offered scope for Celtic to focus on what they need to do to start climbing up the table.
They are currently in fifth spot but with two games in hand still to play. “Getting away from the cold and getting the best preparations possible has been good for us,” she said. “It has been an intense week, a lot of information and a lot of team building and the players being together.
“Now we want to produce the best football we can. We are an excellent team. Partick Thistle will fight, we know about them and our approach is to focus on what we need to do and do it the best way possible.”
League leaders Glasgow City take on Aberdeen at Petershill as they look to pick up 2025 as they left off in 2024. Leanne Ross’ side have a five-point lead at the top of the table, a cushion they will be keen to protect.
Rangers take on Queen’s Park with Jo Potter’s side keen to back to winning ways after a disappointing end to the year with defeats to City and Hibs. Hibs take on Spartans while Hearts face Montrose. And Paul Brownlie’s Motherwell side are away to Dundee United.