Glenn Loovens has managed twenty-one games since signing from Cardiff City last summer and although the Dutchman was pleased to feature in that amount of matches he’s determined that he’ll better that total this season under a new boss. "Twenty-one games for me wasn't a bad effort in my first season at Celtic.” he said. "But now is the time for me to step up and play in every match. Last season I was in and out but it was enjoyable at the same time.”
"I felt comfortable at the club and happy with the way I was playing.” said Loovens. “But sometimes the manager Gordon Strachan chose teams that suggested otherwise. Now we have a new manager and every player has to prove himself to Tony Mowbray."
Loovens has weighed up the opposition in the centre of defence and he knows he has a tough task in his quest to be a Celtic regular. "The captain's out injured at the moment and he'll want to prove himself once he's fit again.” he said. "The skipper of any club I know of always has a bigger claim for a place than anybody else because he's thought to be a step above the rest. The Player of the Year has to prove himself the same as the rest of us because his award was given for what he did last season. It'll be hard for me to break down the partnership Gary and Stephen have had in recent seasons but I have to think that what I do to prove myself is more important than what's gone before. I also need to be the one to prove it should be me starting matches in the first team."
Tomorrow night Loovens returns to his old stomping ground – well almost. Celtic will be the guests for the official opening of the new Cardiff City Stadium (Stadiwm Dinas Caerdydd) and the defender is looking forward to his visit to the Welsh capital. "I liked the old Ninian Park because the fans were right on top of you and the atmosphere was always exceptional.” he said. “But knowing the Cardiff fans as I do the new place will be just as noisy. I also happen to think the Celtic fans who'll be there will be in at the start of a season when our new manager is going to give them a treat.
"He's a quieter person than his predecessor.” said Celtic’s number 22. “But he's an easy going guy and I can't wait to work under him in competitive conditions. Celtic will be good to watch in the coming months. There's going to be a lot of movement up front and Marc-Antoine Fortune is going to be a big danger for us in that department. I can't wait to get started."
Of course Celtic will get started for real against Dinamo Moscow in the Champions League qualifier next Wednesday (July 29th), with the return leg to be played in Moscow just a week later. Loovens knows that it won’t be an easy task to dispose of the Russians but he’s eagerly anticipating the battle against a team who are well into their domestic season. "I've played against Spartak Moscow and Dynamo Kiev in my time and I know Russian sides are well-organised.” he said. “Dinamo also have the advantage of being thirteen matches into their season. But that won't be put forward as an excuse no matter what happens to us. We're just anxious to get on with it."