Goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo has paid tribute to interim Celtic manager Martin O'Neill ahead of Saturday's Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline Athletic.
Sinisalo praised O'Neill for having a positive impact on his life and noted that he will be forever grateful to the 74-year-old for handing him an invaluable opportunity to stake his claim as Celtic's number one.
"We're all so thankful," Sinisalo said. "I'm thankful personally for the opportunity that he gave me against Stuttgart and then the following weekend against Rangers.
"I’m just really, really proud to be included in that team of his. He's an iconic name in the game. Everyone understands that."
When O'Neill initially returned to Celtic last October, he was unsure whether his players were aware of his stature.
"In his first team talk against Falkirk when he came in, he probably didn't understand that everyone knew who he was," Sinisalo continued.
"It's a name in football that everyone respects, and he’s done so much in the game. So, just to be around him and see how he goes about his business has been brilliant.
"I'll be forever grateful for the opportunities he's given me because, in a way, he has changed stuff in my life with the opportunity of coming in and playing for him. So it's been great. I can't really speak highly enough of him."
Does Sinisalo want O'Neill to get the permanent Celtic job this summer?
"I wouldn't be against it, no, but it's not for me to decide," he said.
"The only thing I can control, whoever the manager is, is to try and do my best, and that comes from the daily work that you do on the pitch at training, whether it's in the gym or whatever, and then hopefully you can try and put that into performances.
"When you have people around you that trust you and give you that belief and real confidence to go and execute, it really helps.
"That's something he's done for a big group of players that we have here. He's done that and really helped us get over the line. So I can't really speak highly enough of him. He's a brilliant man to be around."
O'Neill's charges take on Dunfermline Athletic in Saturday's Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup final. Win, and a double is theirs.
"It's what you come to clubs like this for," Sinisalo added. "You want to win. You want to be labelled as a winner. Not just a winner, but a serial winner. You want to be that. And there are a lot of people in that changing room that are that, which definitely helped us get over the line in the league.
"You're playing for a massive football club where every game, you're scrutinised, and every game, you need to win, and there's that pressure on you. And it's a privilege, it really is, to be a part of something like that.
"Ultimately, you want to be part of something successful, and that's what we are trying to do. We’ve done it in the league, and hopefully now we can try and do that on Saturday."
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Sinisalo has spoken to Aston Villa captain John McGinn about life at Celtic.
The pair, who played together at the newly crowned Europa League winners, regularly exchange texts.
"Initially, when I signed, I spoke to him [McGinn] about it, and he gave us a little lowdown of what to expect about being a Celtic player in Glasgow," Sinisalo explained.
"There have been messages when I've gone in the team, and we swapped a few messages here and there. He's been brilliant with me.
"He was at Villa when I was there and he's gone on to do amazing things in his career. Hopefully, I can do some of the things that he's achieved."
McGinn led Villa to the Europa League on Wednesday evening. They defeated SC Freiburg 3-0 in the final, ending a 30-year trophy drought.
"I did watch it, actually. I thought they were excellent," Sinisalo said. "Genuinely, I'm so happy for John.
"Me and him actually signed the same summer. I was obviously an under-16 and no one had a clue who I was. He’d came from Hibs.
"He's seen a lot of things happening at that football club from the Championship and now to be a European cup winner is special. He's a great man, and you wouldn't wish it to a better man."
McGinn will have keen eyes on Saturday's cup final. Kick-off at Barclays Hampden is at 3pm.
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