With his vast experience, Kasper Schmeichel has gained the wisdom not to read or listen to criticism of his performances from those he wouldn’t approach for advice. And it is probably just as well.
Danish publication Ekstra Bladet sparked widespread revulsion with personal comments made about the 106-times capped internationalist after he was injured in Denmark’s Nations League playoff defeat to Portugal back in March, comparing his attempt at punching clear one cross to ‘a child with polio’.
That crossed a line as far as the Danish public were concerned, with a furious backlash against the paper and Schmeichel’s father, Peter, vowing never to speak to them again.
The stooshie that was created and raged in his homeland though largely passed the Celtic number one by. He was aware of the comments, yes, but they bounced off him like one of his family trademark close-range saves.
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As he addressed the row for the first time, he explained that a philosophy of adopting ignorance of the ignorant has been the best way to preserve his positive mindset throughout his long, glittering career.
“Well, do you know what? I was born in the 80s and I grew up in the 90s and I genuinely believe it is the best era to have been a child,” Schmeichel said.
“Because we had technology, but we didn't have internet. We didn't have phones, and we weren't attached to all this stuff.
“It is what it is. I play football, and football is the most popular sport in the world. And everyone's going to have opinions. And do you know what? That's great. It's great, because football is a game of opinions.
“There's no right, there's no wrong. People are going to have opinions that are positive about you. They're going to have negative opinions about you. I think I take advice, and I take praise and criticism, from the people that are closest to me. The people that I would go to advice for are the ones whose opinions I would ask.
“So, for me, I live in this beautiful world where I don't have to read things about myself, and I don't. It actually makes life a lot easier.”
That is one of the lessons Schmeichel tries to impress upon the younger players at Celtic, who may be more inclined to use social media and see what is being said about them.
“If people ask me, I always say the same thing, just don't read it,” he said.
“The only people's opinions you should care about are your coaches, your teammates, your family, your friends, the people around you that know you, know your character, know the standards that you have. “If you're falling below those standards, and the people around you that you respect and listen to are telling you that, that's the opinions that you should really care about.
“Because, like I say, people are entitled to their opinions, and it's part of football, it's part of the game. That's why football is the most popular sport in the world, it's because people talk about it. It's talked about everywhere.
“And I'm part of this game, and I love this game, and I have opinions about football as well, doesn't mean they're right.
“But, I can choose what I do. I can choose whether I want to take all the information in, or I can also choose not to. Like I say, I grew up in an era where that didn't exist, and I'm so thankful for that.”
The disparaging remarks made about his performance for his national team also haven’t put Schmeichel off continuing to represent Denmark, and he hopes to face off against Scotland when the World Cup qualifying phase gets underway.
“I love playing for them,” he said.
“When I was growing up, that was the dream. When I was a kid and I was visualising in the garden, I was visualising the stadium, the shirt I was wearing was the Denmark shirt.
“So, to play for your country, to have played as many games as I have, to have captained my country, that, for me, is the ultimate. “It's the absolute ultimate dream, it's the ultimate thing that you can do as a footballer. So, to still have the opportunity, still have the ability, the drive, the love to do it, I wouldn't give that up. Definitely not.”
On the domestic front, Schmeichel was delighted to recover from his shoulder issue in time to see out the season, and hopefully to help Celtic to another trophy in Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final to round off the treble, and a campaign that has surpassed his expectations.
“I obviously followed Celtic a lot because of Joe [Hart],” he said.
“I played up here, obviously, and played against Celtic and know the size of the club and all that. But once I started really following because of Joe, it was one of those things you really realise how big the club is worldwide. And then joining the club, going to America and seeing the support and seeing the attention around the club, you really feel the size of the club.
“So, to come here and to be a part of a team like we have this year, I think we've been brilliant this year. It's been a great feeling, moving up here, the people, the surroundings, the day-to-day life up here. It's been great.
“It is one of those things, particularly when you get older, you realise that it's not just normal. Not everywhere you go, people are going to love you.
“But to have that support from day one was incredible. The reception I got straight away was amazing and walking around the city, people are so positive. It's been a joy, it really has.”
