soccer

Araujo's magic moment shows importance of connection with Celtic support

[BBC]

Celtic's man of the moment right now is undoubtedly Julian Araujo, following that dramatic, last-gasp winner against Kilmarnock on Sunday.

But it wasn't just the goal that won supporters over - it was the celebration.

The sheer passion. The raw enthusiasm. The sight of a player utterly consumed by the moment and clearly loving life in the Hoops.

And no one captured it better than Araujo himself in the immediate aftermath.

"It's a moment that I'll never forget for the rest of my life…"

Think about that for a second.

This is a player who, at just 21, signed for La Liga giants Barcelona.

A full international with 16 caps for Mexico.

A defender who secured a €10 million move to Bournemouth in the Premier League only 18 months ago.

Yet here he is, calling a late winner for Celtic one of the defining moments of his career.

Despite the negativity that's surrounded parts of this season, Celtic can still provide footballers with those unforgettable experiences - the kind that stay with them forever.

Of course, many of our most talented players will move on in due course. That's the model. That's modern football. Whether it's the Premier League, La Liga, or elsewhere in Europe, talent travels - and Araujo himself may yet return to Bournemouth (though let's see how that goes at the end of his loan spell).

But let's not downplay Celtic's pull.

This is still a club that offers the chance to win silverware every season. A club that, when functioning properly, delivers Champions League football - the dream stage for elite players. And above all, a club that offers unrivalled love and adoration from a global fanbase.

The bond between Araujo and the travelling fans at Rugby Park was first-hand proof of that. Just pure connection between a player and the fans.

But I say all this at a time when it feels like Celtic are at something of a crossroads in our modern history.

And a time where there's a very real danger of the club losing that connection with the fans if they're not careful in terms of their next move.

There's a genuine risk of the club drifting from its supporters if the next steps aren't handled carefully - and that connection can be the difference between winning and losing.

With just 12 games left in this title race, a fully united support could be decisive.

It might be what drives Martin O'Neill's side to one of the sweetest championships in years - or a reason for ending the season with nothing.

And I say all of this fully aware that it's not just as simple as flicking a switch, returning the Green Brigade to Celtic Park, and then all getting on with it.

Conditions must be met on all sides. Concessions will have to be made. But there is always a way.

Now it's on the club to lead, to find that way - and to enable more moments like Araujo's on Sunday between now and what is hopefully, a title-lifting month of May.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange

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