Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo is set to start in the Scottish Cup final against Championship side Dunfermline Athletic at Hampden on Saturday, May 23, 2026.
The 24-year-old Finland international replaced the injured Kasper Schmeichel in February and has since started 13 consecutive matches.
Sinisalo helped Celtic clinch the Premiership title with a 5-0 victory over Dundee United and a 3-1 win against Hearts last weekend.
He arrived from Aston Villa for £1 million in the summer of 2024 and credited manager Martin O'Neill and veteran teammates for guiding the team through a turbulent season.
"Obviously, the weekend was a lot of joy and happiness, a lot of hard work that we've put in as a group to get over the line," Sinisalo said.
"It's just relief of being part of a successful team. There's so much that's happened this whole season.
Things have gone against us, so to go and find a way, it's just really pleasing."
The goalkeeper emphasized that the standard at a major club demands constant victory.
"But it's very much back to the normal training level, and we've been training hard for the last couple of days," he said.
Reflecting on past disappointments at Hampden, Sinisalo highlighted the mentality required to represent Celtic.
"You want to be labelled as a winner. Not just a winner, but a serial winner," he said.
He noted that the presence of established winners in the dressing room remains crucial.
"We're very lucky to have a changing room full of winners, a lot of leaders in there.
You've got James Forrest, Callum McGregor, Ali (Johnston), Cameron Carter-Vickers, so many that understand what it is to be a Celtic player."
Sinisalo stressed that past achievements matter less than the immediate performance demanded in the upcoming fixture.
"In football, especially at a huge club like this, the most important game is your next one," he said.
He also tracked the success of former Aston Villa teammate John McGinn, who won the Europa League with Aston Villa.
"I did watch it," Sinisalo said. "I thought they were excellent.
Genuinely, I'm so happy for John."
Sinisalo remains focused solely on the imminent 90 to 120 minutes of football against Neil Lennon's side.
"There's 90 minutes, 120 minutes of football ahead of us, so you can't really think of what's ahead after the game," he said.
He recalled McGinn's advice about playing for Celtic in Glasgow.
"Initially when I signed, I remember speaking to him about it, and he gave me some lowdown on what to expect as a Celtic player being in Glasgow."
Sinisalo discussed his desire to permanently cement his position as the long-term number one at Parkhead.
"I've always said it, I want to play for this football club as a number one," he said.
He expressed gratitude for the opportunity given by O'Neill during the Europa League match against VfB Stuttgart on February 26.
"And to have that chance I've got to be really grateful to the manager for putting me in at Stuttgart."
The young goalkeeper stated that he maintains a continuous improvement mindset.
"I'm still a young goalkeeper trying to get better every day, that's very much the mentality and that'll never change."
He described how a taste of playing regularly creates an ongoing desire for future silverware.
"If you get a little taste of being a number one you just want to keep doing that and you want more and more and more."
Sinisalo compared this drive directly to the persistent ambition required to win sequential trophies.
"It's the same as winning trophies - it's you win one, you want to win the next one, you want to win the third one after that.
You never get bored of it."
He acknowledged the unique scrutiny placed on a Celtic goalkeeper due to the visible nature of any errors.
"There's always a lot of pressure as a Celtic player but even more as a goalie because eyes are on you and every little mistake is obviously vital."
Sinisalo concluded that he accepts the responsibilities of the role as part of his ongoing growth.
"I've chosen my position so I very much understand that and I accept that. I'm still growing, I'm trying to get better every day."
Speaking further about the senior leadership, Sinisalo praised the core group for helping secure the league title.
"We as a group were really lucky to have a lot of winners in the changing room, people that are leaders."
He noted that a cup win would serve as a special reward for the supporters who followed the team throughout Europe.
"A lot of things have happened this season and people have gone through a lot - not just the players and staff.
The people following us around the country and around Europe have gone through a lot of emotions watching us, so if we could end the season with a cup win it would be special."
In a separate interview, Sinisalo explained that the focus at Lennoxtown remained high as they refuse to take Dunfermline lightly.
"This week at Lennoxtown has been really good.
Everyone understands the reality that we have a job to do and we're very much focused on that."
He stressed that the historical expectations of the club dictate a focus centered strictly on the upcoming match.
"You come to a big club and the most important thing is always the next game."
Sinisalo described how the feeling of securing trophies becomes an addictive pursuit for players.
"The winning feeling is addictive. It's something that, once you experience it, you just want more."
The keeper reiterated the privilege of meeting the expectations placed on the squad by the club.
"Not many football players win a lot, so to be in that minority is a privilege and this is a club where it's expected of you."
Sinisalo promised that the team would apply their maximum effort to repeat the celebratory moments of the previous weekend.
"You work so hard as a group of players and staff to have those moments that we had last week, and we'll do our best to achieve that again this weekend."
He noted that Dunfermline earned complete respect by defeating three separate Premiership sides on their way to Hampden.
"Dunfermline have done so well to get to the Final.
Everyone understands that they've beaten three Premiership sides leading up to this point, so nobody is taking them lightly."
Sinisalo concluded by emphasizing that Celtic must showcase their full capability from the first whistle to secure the trophy.
"There is full respect for them. Winning is a hard thing to do, so there's full respect for them."
